Knowing how to get rid of mosquitoes outside can be critical to you enjoying downtime in your backyard. These bloodthirsty little devils can wreck your outdoor fun in a flash by leaving itchy bites and causing diseases like West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever, Encephalitis, Mayaro Virus Disease, Chikungunya virus disease and, most infamously of all, Malaria.

Many households have tried to find a way to combat these insects. Either by using harsh chemicals or other means such as a sonic mosquito-repelling device. Folk simply want to be able to enjoy the great outdoors without being attacked by mosquitoes.

Let’s look at some of those methods and make recommendations on what you should do if your backyard is suffering from a mosquito infestation…

These particular fish can rid your backyard of mosquitoes.

Ways To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes Outside

Knowing how to get rid of mosquitoes outside is a great way to keep yourself and your family from getting those nasty bites that itch for days.

Add Mosquitofish to Your Pond

One of the best ways to get rid of mosquitoes in your backyard is by using something natural. The lowly mosquitofish may look tiny, but it can devour hundreds of mosquitoes each day. Mosquitofish are perfect for areas with water but no pond because once fully grown, they can survive in most waterways, including puddles. They will also mate in just about any still body of water.

This means that one single adult pair can potentially become thousands of tiny mosquito-eating fish within just a few months after being introduced into their new home. Another bonus is that they do not need much to eat, just a few insects per day.

Pet-Safe Mosquito Control

Another way you can use nature itself to get rid of mosquitoes in your backyard is by using pet-safe natural mosquito control methods like neem oil. Neem oil is taken from the seeds of the neem tree, which grows in tropical regions worldwide. When topically applied to the skin, it keeps mosquitoes away for up to 6 hours by making you taste bad to them.

Use mosquito traps to fix your backyard infestation.

Mosquito Traps

Another popular method that people use to control mosquito populations around their homes is by using traps containing either ultraviolet or carbon dioxide lights and an attractant that helps lure mosquitoes into the trap.

These traps are widely available online. Some can be reused. Others are disposable. Some have a fan inside, which will suck the mosquitoes inside. It’s done before they’re zapped from being too close to the light when attracted inside. An important note about these traps is that you should not use them inside.

Chemical Mosquito Control

Don’t want to use natural methods to get rid of mosquitoes in your backyard? Perhaps you feel they are unreliable or have pets or children who could be at risk? Worry not, there are still some options. Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) is a bacterium that can kill mosquito larvae but not harm other species, including humans, animals, and most aquatic life.

BTI has been approved by the EPA for organic gardening and farming. It can safely be used where edible plants will grow and around wildlife habitats such as ponds that may support amphibians like frogs and salamanders. As an added benefit, BTI works against many types of larvae-eating insects. This includes black flies, midges, and fungus gnats; something proven by mosquito control Huntsville.

Another insecticide that you can use in your backyard is Dibrom, a chemical that kills mosquito larvae but not fishes.

Mosquito foggers are powerful tools to fix this annoying issue.

A Mosquito Fogger For Your Backyard

If you have an infestation of mosquitoes in your backyard, another option would be to invest in a propane-powered fog machine designed just for this purpose. These machines produce mists of mosquito-controlling chemicals that will quickly reduce populations. However, without posing a danger to humans or other animals.

While you should undoubtedly keep young children and pets away from the fog, they won’t be harmed if it touches them. Still, it is not recommended because contact with these chemicals could irritate eyes and nasal passages. Especially in people, but they can also cause respiratory issues in pets.

Use Insect Repellents

Another way to get rid of mosquitoes is by covering your body with insect repellents containing DEET, citronella, or Picaridin. These are all considered safe when used according to their directions. If you lay out in the sun at night beneath a citronella candle, then you may also prevent being bitten by bugs without having to use products with chemicals in them.

Plants That Repel Mosquitoes

Are you looking for all-natural mosquito repellents instead of using chemicals when considering how to get rid of mosquitoes outside? Try planting any of these plants that effectively ward off mosquitoes. It doesn’t matter if you plant them indoors or outdoors because they will need lots of sunlight. Just make sure that you water them regularly to grow strong and healthy.

Catnip has long been an insect repellent, but recent studies show that it works even better than DEET when used simultaneously with lemon eucalyptus oil. Basil does a great job keeping mosquitos away from your food when cooking outside on the grill. However, if that is not an option, then planting basil around your backyard will help keep them from bugging any guests who might be sitting around the patio or deck.

Introduce natural predators to do the work for you.

Natural Predators That Kill Mosquitoes

Another way to get rid of mosquitoes is by introducing natural predators into your backyard that feed on them. One example of a mosquito predator is the larvae of dragonflies. They only eat mosquito larvae and nothing else.

These insects can be used anywhere in your yard with just about any water source, even if they aren’t close together, since most mosquitoes do not travel far from where they were born. Another insect that preys on mosquitoes is convergent lady beetles. These are tiny red bugs that feed primarily on aphids. However, they will also devour adult mosquitoes when they can find them. The convergent lady beetle has shown to be so effective at eliminating large numbers of these bloodthirsty insects within an hour that farmers often use them on livestock farms to kill fly larvae.

Some people might think that mosquitoes are harmless. However, they can spread diseases that affect people worldwide. There are many ways to get rid of mosquitos in your yard, but no matter what product or method you choose, remember not to disturb any stagnant water areas where they breed, or they could make matters worse by creating more mosquitos.