Natural Ways to Handle Mosquitoes in the Landscape 🦟

 

Oh, the everlasting battle between the homeowner and the mosquito… the pesky fly remains the bane of many backyard hangouts. Unfortunately, this rivalry causes tons of pesticides to enter our ecosystems and the most common mosquito pesticides are found to be lethal to pollinators like bees and butterflies. So, what alternatives do we have?

 

REMOVING MOSQUITO BREEDING SITES

Probably the most common tip for resisting mosquitoes taking hold is eliminating breeding sites. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, so reducing these sites is a crucial first step. Empty flowerpots and buckets, remove tarps and other idle plastics, and make sure gutters are flowing properly.

Keep in mind, that not ALL water is ideal for a mosquito breeding. Adding a water feature can be a great move for promoting beneficial mosquito predators to your landscape. Adding a pond can promote a dragonfly population, which means thousands of mosquitoes getting nabbed up! Make sure your pond has a diversity of depths, good aeration, surface movement, and a variety of plant life like water lilies, cattails, and rushes. 

 

Mosquito eggs can hatch in just 24-48 hours, so a perpetually flooding puddle can harbor a viable breeding site.

 

BATS, BATS, BATS

A single bat can eat THOUSANDS of mosquitoes a night. So, our advice is… get a bat box! It is true mutualism as you’re getting natural pest mitigation, and the bats have a safe roost site. An exchange of goods and services. Here are some tips with selecting a bat box:

BE CONSCIENCE OF BAT BOX SIZE - To ensure an enticing home, bat boxes should be at least 14-24 inches wide and 24-36 inches high. The number of roosting chambers is not as critical.

SELECT AN OPTIMAL MOUNTING SPOT - Temperature control is important for bats. A south-facing box promotes direct morning sun and colony warming. There is such a thing as an overheated bat box, so we suggest researching the recommendations for your particular climate. Make sure it is at least 12 feet off the ground. Bats tend to opt for house-mounted bat boxes because of the extra protection from weather events and predators, but pole/tree mounted boxes will certainly achieve success.

 

BIRDS, BIRDS, BIRDS

Several bird species are known for eating mosquitoes, like warblers, martins, swallows, chickadees and many more. Promote these birds in your landscape, and you are inherently managing mosquito populations. Install bird houses, add feeders, and plant lovely native species that your birds will appreciate!

 

You’ve likely seen the chickadees about… they feast on a variety of insects including mosquitoes.

 

OTHER ALTERNATIVES 

• It is very effective pest control to target mosquitoes in the larval stage, not the adult stage. Mosquito dunks are a great option to effectively target just mosquitoes. Here is a great blog on creating an at-home trap that brews conditions that will surely mitigate mosquito populations.
• Mosquitoes, although literally a type of “fly”, are not strong fliers. They appreciate heavy, stagnant air for that reason. See if there’s opportunity to open up airflow in the landscape and also consider fans around areas like a patio.
• Many plants are proven to have aromas that mosquitoes avoid. This includes lemongrass, lavender, marigolds, basil, mint, rosemary, and more. Putting these plants around your hangout areas may help, although much of the discussion around this idea is anecdotal. At the end of the day, why not have great-smelling and edible plants surrounding your relaxation areas?

 

THE BIG PICTURE

They’re here to stay! The goal is not to eradicate every single blood-sucking fly but rather promote an ecosystem where mosquitoes can’t live unimpeded. Oftentimes, traditional landscapes don’t harbor the necessary qualities to attract toads, frogs, birds, fish, dragonflies, bats, etc., so it’s no wonder mosquitoes are rampant. Consider a frog bog, a bat box, a fish pond, bird-friendly plantings, or a mosquito dunk system; there are plenty of ideas to go around.