![]() ![]() The spray will contain one-tenth of one percent permethrin-a synthetic version of a natural insecticide obtained from the flowers of a specific type of chrysanthemum.Īh-but that's a TICK repellant isn't DEET the main chemical repellant for mosquitoes? I further suggest that Ethan's grandfolks treat a couple pair of long white pants with a spray-on tick repellant (available at stores that sell hunting and camping supplies). Yes, I realize that long white pants are the totally incorrect uniform for a thirteen-year-old country boy in the summer, but it would prevent those leg bites while we ramp up with other measures. ![]() Let's stop here (with the second part of Ethan's email to come) and offer some instant help, although Ethan probably isn't going to like it. Is there any kind of smell or food we could use to attract them? We need them badly I just counted thirty bites on my legs! Bug spray has been no help, so our only hope is dragonflies…Ī. We're way out in the country, and you'd think we'd have plenty, but we have not seen any. We have a pond, but absolutely no dragonflies. I'm a 13-year-old boy and live with my grandparents on seven acres of land. Avoid electric bug zappers, which are just as likely to kill beneficial insects such as dragonflies along with the nuisance bugs.īy making your yard attractive to dragonflies and other mosquito devouring critters, you’ll not only have fewer irritating bugs flying about but also get to enjoy a more beautiful outdoor retreat.Q.Add fish to your pond – Fathead minnows are a native fish that can help keep bugs in check by eating mosquito larvae.Mosquito-proof your rain barrel – Be sure mosquitoes cannot access your rain barrel or it will become a breeding ground for them.Install a bat house – Just like dragonflies, bats like to munch on mosquitoes.Clean your gutters – Clogged gutters can hold puddles of water where mosquito eggs hatch.Clean out the bird bath every few days – A good blast with your lead-free hose should do the trick to dislodge mosquito larvae.Remove standing water found in pet water bowls, old tires, children’s toys, open garbage cans, and plant saucers.You can add plants that attract adult dragonflies such as Black-Eyed Susan, Swamp Milkweed, and Joe-Pye weed among others.Ĭheck out the beautiful educational dragonfly garden our summer interns Jack, Nora, and Caden built for the DuPage County Fairgrounds.īesides encouraging dragonfly visitors, here are a few more simple tips to reduce mosquitoes buzzing around your yard: Adult dragonflies will travel several miles from a body of water. Add a water feature if you don’t already have one such as a pond or rain garden. You can encourage dragonflies to come to your yard in a few ways. Not only that, they can be quite beautiful and a joy to observe around the yard. An individual dragonfly can eat hundreds of mosquitoes each day. In fact, they eat them at all stages of life. Plant a Dragonfly Gardenĭragonflies are natural predators for mosquitoes. Besides using insect repellent to keep mosquitoes away from you, you can take steps to keep them away from your yard by making it less hospitable to mosquitoes. Avoid yard spraying which is potentially harmful, by using more natural bug control methods. That means more time enjoying the outdoors at BBQs, the beach or pool, exercising or simply lounging outside. ![]()
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