As temperatures warm up, mosquitos will be coming out of hibernation. It won’t be long before they start annoying us with their constant buzzing and biting. In Texas, enjoying and utilizing our outdoor spaces is in our blood. 

Here in Texas, we have a long mosquito season. Which means we are exposed to mosquito-borne diseases even longer. If you want to make sure your yard is safe for you and your guests this summer, follow these easy and effective mosquito control tips.

Make a Mosquito Trap

Mosquito traps are pretty easy to make. All you need is an empty two-liter soda bottle, some tape, and a cutting tool.

• Cut off the top of the soda bottle
• Place the top half onto the bottom half
• Tape the two halves together
• Add one cup of water to one cup of sugar
• Add one teaspoon of yeast.

Hungry mosquitos won’t be able to resist the smell of the solution and enter the trap. Once inside, they won’t be able to find their way out, will get tired, and will eventually drown in the same liquid they came to feast on. These traps work surprisingly well, so it won’t hurt to add a few of them around your yard for added security. 

Use Citronella

Citronella has long been used as a natural mosquito repellant. You can get citronella in many products such as candles, oil diffusers, or tiki torches. Mosquitoes loath the smell of citronella and will stay away at all costs. The only downside is that these items only produce a small radius of protection, so you may need to place quite a few around your patio to protect everyone.

Use a Mosquito Repellant Spray

Mosquito repellants won’t keep mosquitoes out of your yard, but they will keep them off of you. Make sure that the mosquito spray contains DEET, which is an essential ingredient in repelling mosquitoes.

Eliminate Standing Water

The most effective way to control mosquitos is to eliminate them. You can achieve this by removing their favorite breeding areas. Mosquitos require standing water to lay their eggs in. These places can be anything from buckets, dishes, flower pots, old tires, birdbaths, water catchers, and animal waterers. It only takes a small amount of water for mosquito eggs to hatch, which they will do in just three days. By eliminating standing water, you can dramatically limit the number of mosquitos in your area. You can even create a pact with your neighbors to get rid of standing water in your yards to reduce the population even further.

Invite Bats and Swallows

Even mosquitos have enemies. Why not invite those enemies into your yard? Mosquito eating animals such as swallows, purple martins, and bats aren’t only enjoyable to watch but also do you a favor by eating mosquitos. Make them feel welcome by putting up a few bat houses and purple martin houses. You can attract swallows by putting up bird boxes that face open areas of land.

Use Larvicide

You might not be able to eliminate all instances of standing water on your property. In the case of animal waters and birdbaths, you can always use a mosquito pellet. These animal-safe pellets can be purchased at any hardware or gardening center. Just toss the pellet into the water, and it can prevent eggs from hatching for several months. 

Call the Mosquito Pros at DFW Mosquito

Before mosquitos start giving you and your family problems, call the experts at DFW Mosquito. 

We offer a mosquito control program as well as one-time services for special events. 

Give us a call at  (817) 615-4944 or send us a message. Forget to follow our blog for helpful mosquito control tips in Texas.