You probably remember that as a child, a mosquito bite was just another summer annoyance, like a skinned knee or sunburn. But with new diseases such West Nile Virus being transmitted by mosquito’s, the mosquito’s trademark whine has taken on a much more ominous tone. Anyone who wants to protect themselves, their pets and their family wants to know how to get rid of mosquitoes. You should be able to cut down on the mosquito population around your home with a few simple steps.

Get Rid of Standing Water

The easiest way to get rid of these blood-sucking pests is to remove all standing water near your house. Mosquito larvae incubate in standing water, and they can reproduce in shockingly small pools. Dump out any water in buckets, old tires, birdbaths and the like. Flip over empty pots and wheelbarrows so they don’t collect water. Change the water in your pet’s dish, and in any children’s pools every day so larvae don’t find a welcome home anywhere in your yard.

If you have standing water that you can’t drain or remove, like a decorative pond, look into getting mosquito fish (gambusia). These sturdy little fish can live in almost any water source, and their favorite food is, you guessed it, mosquito larvae. Often they are available for free at your local county extension office, particularly if you have documented West Nile Virus in your area.

Encourage Mosquitoes Natural Predators

The most natural way to get rid of mosquitoes is to encourage their natural predators. Even though you might find it creepy to welcome bats to your neighborhood, they are very effective way of controlling flying insects. When you discover that a single bat can eat thousands of small insects in a single hour, they suddenly become a much cuter house guest. Look on the Internet for plans to build a “bat box” to welcome these hard working little mammals to your home.

Use Chemicals to Get Rid of Mosquitoes

All of these natural methods are effective over the long term, but what if you are about to have a barbecue and your back yard is filled with mosquitoes? How can you get rid of mosquitoes immediately? There are several back yard sprays on the market now, look for one with DEET, which is clinically proven to repel mosquitoes. Citronella candles are a common item for repelling bugs outdoors, but research has not shown them to have much of any effect in preventing mosquito bites. In fact, some scientists believe that the carbon dioxide that comes from burning candles actually attracts mosquitoes, as it is the carbon dioxide that you give off that attracts the mosquitoes to you. If you want to use candles, it is probably best to have them burning away from the center of the party, just in case.

Keep After Those Suckers!

With constant vigilance and a little luck, the annoying mosquito does not have to be a guest at any of your back yard barbecues this year. Once you interrupt their breeding cycle by eliminating any water they could use to lay eggs, you will see a definite decrease in the mosquito population around your home. Those pesky, itchy bites will just be another memory from the distant past.