Many homeowners enjoy adding water features and birdbaths to make their yards more attractive. While these enhancements provide relaxation and aesthetic appeal, they are also huge attractors of mosquitoes. If you don't maintain your birdbath correctly, you could wind up with a full-blown infestation, preventing you from enjoying the outdoors.
Fortunately, there are several ways to make sure mosquitoes don't take over your water features. Read on to learn more about why mosquitoes love standing water and how EnviroGuard can help keep them away.
Do Birdbaths Attract Mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes thrive in warm, moist environments, and a source of standing water is essential to the reproduction process. Female mosquitoes require blood to lay their eggs, which is their main reason for biting humans and animals. Once they eat, eggs begin to form as they digest the blood, and the female will seek out a place to lay them.
These pests can breed in any form of standing water, as long as it's still. This includes ponds, puddles, and, unfortunately, your birdbath. The larvae eventually hatch after the eggs are laid and spend about two weeks underwater before reaching adulthood. Mosquito larvae look like tiny squiggly worms swimming either close to the surface or at the bottom of a water source.
Three Things You Can Do To Keep Mosquitoes Out Of Birdbaths
You shouldn't have to get rid of your birdbath to keep mosquitoes away from your yard. Here are three top tips for a pest-free water feature:
- Add an agitator. While standing water attracts mosquitoes, any liquid that is moving will repel them. If the design of your birdbath allows for an additional fountain or waterfall, the constant motion will deter insects. Adding a device like the Water Wiggler makes sure your water keeps moving and attracts more birds.
- Change the water regularly. Replacing your water at least every five days interrupts the mosquito life cycle. Eggs take anywhere from seven to ten days to fully form, so frequent water changes ensure they never get the chance.
- Treat your water. Mixing a bacterial insecticide in your birdbath water kills mosquitoes while protecting birds and wildlife. Avoid using any chemical insecticides.
Making your birdbath as unattractive to mosquitoes as possible is the key to deterring these pests. If you're still having mosquito issues after taking these measures, take a closer look at what else might be attracting them to your property.
What Is The Best Way To Kill Mosquitoes In My Yard
The best way to get rid of mosquitoes is to prevent them from infesting in the first place. Here are several ways you can keep these pesky bugs away from your family and pets.
- Marigolds, rosemary, and lavender are all plants that mosquitoes don't like. Plant them around your lawn and garden as a natural deterrent.
- Eliminate other sources of standing water on your property. Get rid of any tarps where puddles may form and flip over or store empty pots, so they don't collect rainwater. Flip over trash can lids.
- Make sure your gutters are clean; when they become clogged, rainwater pools and becomes the perfect place for mosquitoes to lay their eggs.
- Use outdoor fans around patio dining and seating areas, as mosquitoes hate wind.
- Light citronella candles when spending time outdoors.
When natural remedies for mosquitoes fail, it might be time to call an exterminator, like EnviroGuard.
EnviroGuard: Effective Mosquito Control for Austin Residents
When mosquitoes become a nuisance on your property, contact EnviroGuard. We've been a go-to source of pest control in Austin for over 40 years. Our comprehensive mosquito treatment plans ensure they stay away from your home for good. Call us to find out how we can help.