10 Tips to Keep Mosquitoes at Bay

Summertime and the living is ...itchy. Or at least it could be unless you take some precautions. That's because there's been a population explosion of mosquitoes this summer, thanks to an especially rainy season in many parts of the country. Wet weather creates the ideal breeding ground for the pesky bugs. Mosquitoes start out in life as aquatic larvae in standing bodies of water such as ponds, swamps and marshes. They need as little as an inch of water to live. But there are ways to enjoy the outdoors without being pestered by the nasty biters. David Mizejewski, naturalist at National Wildlife Federation, provides his top 10 tips to avoid summertime swarms.

1. Drain the water. Remove unnecessary standing water around your home. Typical hot-beds for mosquito reproduction are clogged gutters, flower-pot drainage dishes, children's play equipment, tarps and any debris that can hold water.

2. Share the news. Mosquitoes don't respect property lines. So ask your neighbors to do their part to keep them at bay. that emerge in their yards will easily travel to yours.

3. Empty and refill birdbaths often.  It takes a minimum of about a week for the metamorphosis from egg to larva to pupa to winged adult to be completed, so emptying and refilling every few days eliminates any chance that your birdbath will serve as a mosquito nursery.

4. Attract mosquito predators. Add plants to water gardens to attract frogs, salamanders and dragonflies and put up houses for birds and bats. Fish feed on mosquito larvae, just don't release goldfish or other exotic species into natural areas.

5. Don't pollute. Refrain from using insecticides or putting oil on the surface of bodies of water. This kills beneficial insects, mosquito predators and causes air and water pollution.

6. But do dunk. "Mosquito Dunks" that contain natural bacteria that kills mosquitoes can be added to water gardens without harming fish, birds or other wildlife. (Closely related insects, some beneficial, could be affected though.)

7. Choose wisely. DEET-based repellants are effective but if you want to avoid synthetic chemicals, aromatic herbal repellents also work if applied frequently.

8. Avoid going outdoors at dusk. Dusk is peak mosquito time, but if you do go outside, be sure to wear long sleeves to minimize exposed skin that could be bitten.

9. Zap the zappers. Bug zappers aren't effective against mosquitoes. Zappers do kill thousands of beneficial insects a night.

10. Create a breeze. Mosquitoes are not strong flyers and the breeze created by a fan is often all you need to keep a patio or deck mosquito-free so you can enjoy the outdoors.

To read about mosquito life cycle and ecology, visit  NWF's Wildlife Promise blog.