While we all wish that we could live without mosquitoes, it can be a challenge to control these bugs effectively. Part of the problem is that the market is flooded with options that simply don’t work, which makes it difficult to find a mosquito control method that actually works.
We explore the available mosquito control methods to help you rule out ineffective.
The Best Mosquito Control
| Control Method | Does It Work | How to Use |
| Deet | Yes | Apply a DEET-infused product directly to your skin |
| Picaridin | Yes | Apply a picaridin-infused product directly to your skin |
| Oil of lemon eucalyptus | Yes | Apply an essential oil-infused product directly to your skin |
| Bug zapper | No | Turn it on |
| Ultrasonic Device | No | Turn it on |
| Backyard misting system | Unreliable | Install around property. |
| Wearables | No | Wear product |
| Electronic Repeller | Yes | Use for stationary activities within a 15-foot radius |
| Mosquito traps | Yes | Best when used with mosquito barrier spray |
| Biological mosquito control | Yes, to some degree | |
| Citronella Candles | No | Light candle |
| Barrier Spray | Yes | Install around the property. |
Mosquito Control Methods: Find Out What Works
If you are tired of mosquitoes buzzing around your yard, finding an effective control method is a top priority. Luckily for you, we’ve combed through the research and tested some of these tools ourselves to determine which mosquito control methods are most effective.
Mosquito Repellent: DEET
When it comes to getting rid of mosquitoes, DEET might be the first thing that pops to mind. You can spray this solution on yourself as a repellent against mosquitoes.
Does it work?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of insect repellents as one of the key strategies for preventing mosquito bites and reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika virus, West Nile virus, and malaria. DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) is one of the most commonly used and effective insect repellents recommended by the CDC for mosquito control.
The CDC advises that DEET products with concentrations between 20-30% provide long-lasting protection against mosquitoes, with higher concentrations providing longer protection.
When it comes to getting rid of mosquitoes, DEET might be the first thing that pops to mind. You can spray this solution on yourself as a repellent against mosquitoes.
How to use:
Dozens of products contain DEET. For effective protection, you’ll need a product with at least a 5% concentration of DEET. At a 5% concentration, protection lasts around 90 minutes. Products with a 100% concentration offer up to 10 hours of protection.
When selecting a product, opt for a concentration that offers the timeline of protection you have in mind.
Mosquito Repellent: Picaridin
Picaridin is another type of mosquito repellent, which you can apply directly to your skin. It is odorless, non-greasy, and safe for use in both adults and children. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved picaridin as an effective insect repellent ingredient since 2005.
Does it work?
Picaridin is an effective mosquito repellent. According to a study in the Journal of Travel Medicine that compared the effectiveness of DEET and picaridin, “the two chemicals will provide near to equivalent periods of protection.”
The EPA has determined that products containing picaridin are safe and can provide long-lasting protection against insects, including mosquitoes and ticks
How to use:
In contrast to DEET, picaridin is an odorless repellent infused into a variety of products. Choose a product type, like a spray or lotion, that best suits your preferences.
Mosquito Repellent: Oil of Lemon-eucalyptus
If you prefer a natural mosquito control method, oil of lemon eucalyptus is another popular option. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has registered oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) as an effective insect repellent for use in mosquito control. OLE is derived from the leaves of the lemon eucalyptus tree (Corymbia citriodora) and contains the active ingredient p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), which has been found to repel mosquitoes.
The EPA states that products containing OLE with a concentration of 30% have been shown to provide protection against mosquitoes, including those that may transmit diseases like Zika virus, West Nile virus, and malaria. OLE is considered a natural alternative to synthetic ingredients like DEET and picaridin and is generally
Does it work?
Lemon eucalyptus oil is an effective method of repelling mosquitoes. According to the American Mosquito Control Association, lemon eucalyptus oil has a similar efficacy level to DEET.
How to use:
Choose a product with lemon eucalyptus oil, like a spray or lotion. Apply the product directly to your skin.
Bug Zappers
Bug zappers, also known as electronic insect control systems or electric insect killers, are devices designed to attract and kill flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, and moths. Here is how bug zappers typically work:
Bug zappers are equipped with an ultraviolet (UV) light source that emits light in the UV spectrum. Some flying insects are naturally drawn to certain wavelengths of light.
Surrounding the UV light source is an electrified grid or mesh made of metal wires or bars. When insects are attracted to the light and come into contact with the grid, they complete an electrical circuit and are exterminated.
Bug zappers, also known as electronic insect control systems or electric insect killers, are devices designed to attract and kill flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, and moths. Here is how bug zappers typically work:
Bug zappers are equipped with an ultraviolet (UV) light source that emits light in the UV spectrum. Some flying insects are naturally drawn to certain wavelengths of light.
Surrounding the UV light source is an electrified grid or mesh made of metal wires or bars. When insects are attracted to the light and come into contact with the grid, they complete an electrical circuit and are exterminated.
Does it work?
Bug zappers do kill some insects, including some mosquitoes. But the devices don’t kill enough mosquitoes to be considered effective as a mosquito control solution.
Why not?
A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that outdoor bug zappers aren’t effective at controlling mosquitoes. Another study found that just 0.13% of bugs killed by a zapper were female mosquitoes.
Ultrasonic Devices
Ultrasonic pest-repellent devices emit a high-pitched sound with the intent to kill or incapacitate insects, such as mosquitoes.
Does it work?
No, ultrasonic devices are not considered an effective way to control mosquitoes.
Why not?
While it would be nice if this minimally invasive solution worked, ultrasonic mosquito control devices aren’t an effective way to deal with mosquitoes. According to the American Mosquito Control Association, over 10 studies have come to the same conclusion that ultrasonic devices don’t have an impact on mosquitoes.
Backyard Misting Systems
Backyard misting systems involve a timed release of pesticides designed to kill insects, including mosquitoes. Usually, a backyard misting system is mounted to the perimeter of the yard. The spray might be released at regular intervals or with a remote control.
Does it work?
The short answer is sometimes. A study published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association found that the efficacy of the tested backyard misting system varies dramatically from week to week. In one week, the mosquito reduction was 98%. But in other weeks, the mosquito reduction was as low as 14%. The large range makes backyard misting systems an unreliable way to control mosquitoes.
Why not?
Backyard misting systems indiscriminately kill insects, including both mosquitoes and beneficial insects. Based on a study about the effectiveness of backyard misting systems, the systems were most effective when a mosquito was directly exposed to the spray. But the spray wasn’t very effective when a mosquito came into contact with the residue of the insecticide on vegetation.
Wearables
Wearable mosquito-repellent devices are attractive because you don’t have to apply chemicals of any kind to your skin. Wearables can include bracelets, clothing, and skin patches designed to protect you from mosquito bites.
Does it work?
No, most wearables aren’t an effective way to repel mosquitoes. According to a study published in the Journal of Insect Science, most wearable devices don’t repel mosquitoes. The one notable exception what the OFF! Clip-on, which did reduce mosquito bites by around 75%.
Why not?
Most wearables don’t have a high enough concentration of active ingredients to effectively repel mosquitoes.
Electronic Mosquito Repeller
Electronic mosquito repellers release a repellent into the air that creates a zone of protection against mosquitoes. A small electronic heating element activates a cartridge.
Electronic mosquito repeller that advertises a 15-foot radius of protection against mosquito bites. Without a need to apply repellent or spray for mosquitoes, it’s easy to see why many are interested in this option.
Does it work?
Yes, ThermaCell devices can provide effective protection against mosquitoes for stationary activities. A study published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association found that ThermaCell offered worthwhile protection from mosquito bites.
How to use:
If engaging in a stationary activity, turn the ThermaCell device on. Within the 15-foot radius, you should notice a drop in mosquitoes present. But when the cartridge runs out, so does the protection.
Mosquito Traps
A mosquito trap lures mosquitoes into an inescapable and lethal situation. Some traps involve a sticky substance that immobilizes mosquitoes permanently.
Does it work?
Mosquito traps offer a non-invasive, eco-friendly mosquito control. However, mosquito traps alone are likely not enough to completely protect yourself from bites, according to the American Mosquito Control Association. It usually takes a couple of weeks for the mosquito trap to become fully effective and needs to be serviced every twenty days or so.
Continuously used mosquito traps offer a way to reduce the number of mosquitoes in a particular area. A study published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association found that mosquito traps in some locations make a significant impact on mosquito numbers.
How to use:
Mosquito traps are available for purchase through many pest control companies and hardware stores. You can choose to set these up in your yard by yourself. Or you can enlist the help of a professional to set up mosquito traps.
Citronella Candles
Citronella candles have become a popular option for those seeking natural mosquito relief. The simplicity of lighting a candle with a tolerable smell for mosquito control is appealing.
Does it work?
Although it’s a popular choice, citronella candles aren’t an effective mosquito control method.
Why not?
According to a study in the Journal of Insect Science, a “citronella candle had no effect.” The lack of effectiveness means that lighting a citronella candle won’t help you find mosquito relief.
Biological Mosquito Control
Bats and purple martins, which both eat insects, have been proposed as a biological mosquito control solution. The idea is that fostering a habitat that appeals to bats and purple martins will help tame the mosquito population.
Does it work?
Biological control methods, including bats and purple martins, don’t make a noticeable impact on the number of mosquitoes in a particular area, according to the American Mosquito Control Association
Why not?
Both purple martins and bats are known to eat insects, which includes mosquitoes. But unfortunately, neither of these animals prey exclusively on mosquitoes. Instead, they are opportunistic feeders who eat whatever insects are in their immediate vicinity.
According to James Hill, founder of the Purple Martin Conservation Association, “The number of mosquitoes that martins eat is extremely insignificant, and they certainly don’t control them. In-depth studies have shown that mosquitoes comprise no more than 0 to 3 percent of the diet of martins.”
Additionally, mosquitoes usually account for less than 1% of the gut contents of wild-caught bats. While purple martins and bats both eat some number of mosquitoes, their feeding habits don’t make a significant dent in the mosquito population.
Mosquito Barrier Control Sprays
Mosquito barrier spray treatments are one of the most effective means of mosquito control in your yard. You’ll notice results almost instantly.
The mosquito barrier spray is applied with the backpack blower to target mosquito hot spots on your property.
We spray the perimeter of your yard, under decks, areas with foliage, bushes, and trees. We avoid spraying directly on the grass or around blooming flowers. Eco-friendly treatment options are available.
Does it work?
A MissQuito team member will spray your yard on a regular cycle of either 14 or 21 days. In addition to a standard synthetic spray, MissQuito offers natural, oil-based product options for homeowners who would prefer to avoid putting harsh chemicals into their yards.
Beyond the barrier sprays, some of the pest management plans include in2care mosquito trap installations and standing water treatments.
How to use:
The process starts with a free inspection of your property. From there, the team will discuss the Integrated Pest Management program that makes the most sense for your property. With the program in place, service begins immediately.
Depending on the management approach chosen, your service calls will repeat on a cycle of 14 or 21 days. You also have the option for one-time treatments, which could help you create a mosquito-free environment for big events like birthdays and barbeques.
How to determine which mosquito control method is best for your situation
The right mosquito control solution varies based on the activity you have in mind. For example, if you want to enjoy your backyard with limited mosquito interference, the MissQuito mosquito control might be the right fit. But if you are planning a hike in the woods, spray-on repellent that includes either DEET or lemon-eucalyptus oil should have a place in your backpack.
Mosquito Prevention
There are physical methods for mosquito control that can help reduce the chance of mosquito bites.
Properly installed screens without tears or holes can keep mosquitoes outside of your house. If you are sitting outside, a fan will keep mosquitoes away. They are not strong enough to fly against the generated breeze.
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Eliminate standing water during mosquito season. Empty birdbaths, treat pools, clean clogged gutters, keep water moving in ponds, and empty anything collecting water in your yard.
Summary
Most can agree that mosquitoes are a scourge. Whether it’s the buzzing in your ear, the itchy bites, or the fact that mosquitoes spread infectious diseases, everyone wants to get rid of these annoying insects.
While there are plenty of mosquito control solutions on the market, some are more reliable than others. And unfortunately, some of the advertised mosquito control solutions simply don’t work. For example, wearable mosquito control devices rarely work.
As you move forward, consider your mosquito control needs. If you want to avoid bites while on a hike, then a spray-on product might work best. But if you want a comprehensive way to minimize the presence of mosquitoes in your yard, then consider enlisting the services of MissQuito today.