How to keep mosquitoes out of yard?

Question

Summer is fast approaching and that means I’m headed straight for open warfare…not overseas with the army, but right in my backyard. Yes, I’m talking about the mosquito infestation that plagues my property every year. I invite people over for outdoor barbecues but, instead of relaxing in my outdoor entertaining area, we all end up standing uncomfortably indoors, driven from the fresh air by a veritable plague of blood thirsty little insects! Obviously, I’m at my wits end and this is driving me extremely crazy. So, any suggestions will be appreciated and implemented immediately. How to keep mosquitoes out of yard? Has anyone else successfully overcome this problem?

Answer 1

I’d start by investing in a few mosquito deterrents. You’ll need a good, reliable insect repellent that can be sprayed over your whole body, and it has to have DEET in it – not for the faint hearted but very effective. If you’re reluctant to smell like a chemical factory, try some of the natural solutions, like burning mosquito coils or placing citronella candles around your party perimeter (they give off a lemongrass type smell, so not too offensive). I’d also rig up some bug lights (bulbs with an opaque yellow finish). Mosquitoes are naturally attracted to lights, but if you coat the globe in an opaque yellow, then they become virtually invisible to insects (something about they see different wave lengths than humans).

If all of this isn’t enough, go for an automatic outdoor spray. These bad boys are designed to continuously douse your backyard in mosquito killer in the form of a fine mist – effective, but some guests may protest at the thought of your backyard being fogged over with insecticide.

Answer 2

It is possible to answer the question of “how to keep mosquitoes out of yard” without having to invest in chemicals or a “zapper”, there are other ways of controlling mosquito numbers. Do you have containers of stagnant water lying around? If so, eliminate these, as stagnant water is where mosquitoes breed and multiply. Secondly, try planting some vegetation that is known to repel mosquitoes (e.g. catnip or lavender). Another option (although not sure how attractive this one will sound) is to try and make your home more appealing for bats. Apparently bats can eat about a thousand mosquitoes in a single night, so if you attract a little colony into yard then they could eliminate your mosquito problem all together. If you’re not opposed to the idea of resident bats then try planting fruit trees.

Answer 3

Try getting one of those insect zapper machines. We had them when we were kids and they were fantastic, although evenings out of doors were punctuated by a continuous litany of tiny sizzles.
Essentially, the machine shines a giant, luminescent and totally irresistible light out to the insect world. Like moths to a flame, literally, insects take flight and head straight towards this big, beautiful beacon. But the light is surrounded by a fine grid of “zappers” (not sure what the technical name is) that will fry any insect that touches it.