Knowing what attracts and keeps mosquitoes in your lawn is an integral part of mosquito control. In this article, we’ve outlined some of the most prominent reasons mosquitoes find your lawn attractive and what you can do about them.
What Attracts Mosquitoes to Lawns?
Standing Water
Unsurprisingly, standing water is the main cause of mosquito infestations. It’s well-known that stagnant water is the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. However, what’s less obvious is how little water these pesky insects require to thrive. They can lay their eggs in an area as small as the cap of a bottle, so make sure to check even the most unlikely items, such as outdoor furniture, grill covers, trash can lids, and wet clothing.
Also, pay attention to water-filled containers like barrels, wheelbarrows, tires, and buckets, which can harbor more mosquitoes. These are easier to spot, so inspect them first. Next, check items with perforated patterns that can hold water, like flower pots, pet bowls, birdbaths, and abandoned cups.
Emptying anything with stagnant water is the best way to make your lawn or backyard less inviting to mosquitoes. After rain, check all possible areas where water can collect. If you can, overturn or store all items that can hold water inside your house or garage. Refill water-filled items like pet bowls and bird baths regularly to prevent stagnation. Your pets and birds will enjoy them better if they’re fresh anyway.
If you cannot empty a container, try to cover it tightly so mosquitoes cannot enter and lay eggs. Water collection containers such as rain barrels and buckets should be sealed and secured with a tightly fitting lid. Make sure they do not leak or drip. In the case of water puddles you cannot drain, consider filling them with dirt or other materials.
Clogged Gutters
Drainage systems and gutters are vital components of your house, but they can also be a driver for mosquito infestations on your property. When twigs and leaves accumulate and clog gutters, drainage pipes, and drains, mosquitoes have the perfect home and breeding ground.
Ensure your pipes and gutters have no debris to allow water to flow through them freely, as this will prevent mosquitoes from crowding in. Check your gutters regularly after a storm or strong winds, as these can also easily cause leaves to accumulate. Additionally, ensure the drainage systems are not broken, which can cause clogging.
Water Features
If your lawn has water features like pools and ponds, outdoor mosquito control becomes a little more complex. Mosquitoes may find breeding opportunities in unmaintained swimming pools or ponds. And unlike water in tires, draining the water in these water features is challenging. This does not, however, mean that you should simply give mosquitoes free reign.
Maintain crystal-clear, clean, and flowing pool water by disinfecting the water and applying chlorine regularly. Clean the surrounding areas and pool filters, and operate the pumps according to the manufacturer’s instructions. You can also include plants that ward off mosquitoes in your poolside landscaping, such as marigolds, citronella, and lavender.
If you have ponds in your backyard, consider installing aeration systems to help circulate the water and prevent mosquitoes from laying their eggs. You can also add spitters, waterfalls, or fountains to guarantee bigger water movement. It’s essential to replenish the pond’s water and get rid of any algae that mosquito larvae consume. You can also introduce natural mosquito predators to your ponds, such as frogs, tadpoles, and fish like koi and guppies.
Tall Grass
You might notice mosquitoes suddenly swarming after you go into the overgrown parts of your lawn. This probably makes you wonder, “Why are mosquitoes attracted to grass?”
Mosquitoes generally prefer to live in damp, cool, dark areas near the ground. These areas include the undersides of plant leaves, thick weeds, brush, and tall grass.
The longer the grass, the more hiding places small insects have. Overgrown grasses, bushes, and other natural areas are ideal shelters or resting places for mosquitoes for many reasons. Tall grass offers excellent protection from the sun’s rays and wind, which can carry mosquitoes away. Grass also helps keep mosquitoes hidden from avian predators.
Fortunately, it’s easy to get rid of tall grasses. You just have to mow your lawn regularly, as you should be doing in the first place. From May 1st through the end of the growing season in the fall, mow once a week. Don’t cut any shorter than 7 or 8 cm when using a lawnmower. Maintaining a short and well-trimmed lawn not only improves the visual appeal of your property but also takes away mosquitoes’ hiding places.
Lawn Debris
Mosquitoes are drawn to yards with stick bundles or branch piles. As mentioned above, wind is one of the main adversaries of mosquitoes. Any debris lying around your lawn offers these tiny insects refuge from the breeze.
Removing lawn debris can help with mosquito pest control efforts. Routinely clearing your yard of twigs, leaves, and grass clippings may be daunting, but it can help minimize the chances of mosquitoes ruining your outdoor summer barbecue. After eating outside, don’t forget to clean up leftover foods that can attract more mosquitoes.
People in Your Lawn
You and your loved ones are major attractions to mosquitoes. Female mosquitos, in particular, need blood to reproduce. They bite to obtain a “blood meal,” using the proteins in the blood to produce eggs.
Female mosquitoes choose which individuals or animals to bite more frequently based on several factors, such as blood type, metabolic rate, and carbon dioxide emission. These annoying insects also choose who to bite based on the color of their clothing, alcohol consumption, pregnancy status, etc.
Certain factors like blood type are beyond your control. You can, however, take other measures to make yourself less appealing to mosquitoes, such as not wearing dark clothing when lounging in your yard. It’s also not advisable to exercise in your yard when there’s no breeze because sweat attracts mosquitoes, and there’s no wind to deter them.
Try planting mosquito-repelling plants, like citronella, lavender, and lemon balm. These types of plants help naturally keep insects away. Additionally, you could spray your lawn with insecticide or set up mosquito traps. You can also hire professionals to apply mosquito lawn treatment to your home’s vicinity.
Get Professional Help to Mosquito-Proof Your Lawn
Following these tips and watching for common mosquito breeding areas can help reduce the number of mosquitoes on your lawn. However, keeping every mosquito out of your yard can be very difficult without expert assistance.
If you’re looking for an organic mosquito control service near you, try LawnMart. Rather than resorting to chemical fogging as most other companies do, our team of experts uses a much safer and more effective method to eliminate your mosquito problems. Contact us to learn how we can help you mosquito-proof your lawn.