How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are a common pest in North Carolina, thriving in hot, humid conditions and ruining outdoor events. However, they’re more than just an annoyance, these biting pests carry a variety of dangerous illnesses, including West Nile and Zika virus. If you’re seeing swarms in your yard or they’ve gotten inside your house, don’t panic, we’re sharing how to get rid of mosquitoes effectively.

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your Yard

If you can’t go out without getting mosquito bites, here are some steps to eliminate mosquitoes from your yard and around your home.

Eliminate Standing Water

Mosquitoes are drawn to water as that’s where they lay eggs and the larvae hatch, so if you have standing water around, you’re going to have mosquitoes. Keep any receptacles stored upside down so they don’t collect rainwater, ensure plants in containers have adequate drainage so the water doesn’t pool on the top, and change out the water in bird baths on a frequent basis.

Any water you can’t empty, like a pond or a ditch, can be sprayed with BTI, a naturally occurring bacterium that’s toxic to mosquito larvae.

Keep the Pool Covered

If you have a pool, whether it’s a large inground pool or a little kid’s pool, you need to keep it covered when it’s not in use. This will prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in it and swarming the area.

Use Mosquito Traps

For outdoor gathering areas, like around your porch, you can use a mosquito trap to get rid of them. These actually attract mosquitoes with either bright lights or smells that are appealing to the insects. While you’ve probably seen the sticky mosquito traps and electric bug zappers, you can also go high tech with vacuums equipped with UV light to attract them and then vacuuming them into a chamber, eliminating the issue.

Use Mosquito Repellents

Instead of attracting them and killing them, you can use mosquito repellents to keep them away. You’re probably familiar with sprays you can apply that contain DEET as well as citronella candles you can burn as the smells repel the insects. Additional things you can use to repel mosquitoes include:

• Diffuse essential oils like lemon, eucalyptus and peppermint;
• Put out plants, including geraniums, peppermint, marigolds, and lemon balm;
• Use a Thermacell that gives off repellent up to a 15 feet radius;
• Use yellow lightbulbs outside;

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your Home

Much of the same steps can be used if you have mosquitoes in your home. However, you probably don’t want to burn citronella candles or apply OFF mosquito repellent in your home. Instead, if you have mosquitoes inside, try these steps:

• Turn on an oscillating or box fan as mosquitoes can’t fly against the wind power;
• Diffuse lemongrass, peppermint, tea tree, lemon, eucalyptus, and/or lavender essential oils (or just add 10 drops to a cup of water in a spray bottle, shake it and spray around the home, especially where mosquitoes have been hanging out. (Essential oils aren’t skin safe in water, so avoid them on your skin and getting them on delicate fabric)
• Burn rosemary, sage, or even coffee grounds;
• Secure or repair window screens and check for gaps around doors.

Contact Us for to Get Rid of Mosquitos in Raleigh!

Mosquitoes are hard to get rid of once they make their presence known. While DIY methods work against a few pests and offer some much needed relief, we eliminate mosquitoes and keep them gone with safe, comprehensive mosquito control that lasts at least 30 days. Take back the outdoors and schedule a mosquito inspection today by calling (919) 231-3292 or filling out the form below to get started.