Mosquitoes driving you nuts? Here are a few tips on how to deter and kill mosquitoes.

Preventing Mosquitoes from Hatching

Keeping the mosquito from hatching is the best prevention.

1. Standing Water Removal

The number one way to prevent mosquitoes is to remove their breeding source. Unfortunately, having a small outdoor space usually means you have little control over the standing water around you.

However, you can still remove standing water from your own porch, patio, deck, or balcony. Empty plant saucers, buckets, old tires, and other containers that can hold water, clear clogged gutters, fix leaky outdoor faucets, and empty and refill birdbaths and other wildife water sources regularly.

Even then, emptying all standing water isn't practical if you have a water garden of any kind -- which leads us to the next method of prevention.

2. Biological Control

If you do have a water garden or other standing water you don't want to empty frequently, try a method that destroys mosquito larvae or a critter that eats mosquitoes.

Bacterial Control

The easiest form of bacterial control for those of us with wildlife porches, patios, decks, or balconies may be a product called Mosquito Dunks. The product uses the dead spores of a natural soil bacterium to target mosquito larva via the digestive system.

It's a non-poisonous solution to the problem.

Fish

Mosquitofish are most commonly used in small outdoor water gardens, but guppies, killifish, tilapia, and some cyprinids also eat mosquito larva.

Birds

Martins are famous for eating mosquitoes, but martins need large birdhouses and plenty of open space. Other birds include the Eastern Kingbird, chimney swift, tree swallow, and barn swallow. Even most songbirds who visit your feeder will eat some mosquitoes.

Bats, Frogs, and Toads

Bats (yes, bats -- they are very beneficial and rarely harmful) can eat a large number of insects, including mosquitoes, in an hour.

Some toad and frog tadpoles eat mosquito larva, and even more adult toads and frogs eat the adult mosquitoes.

Plants

Legend has it certain plants repel mosquitoes, at least to some degree. Citronella repels but is a rather large grass. Pelargonium quercefolia may be a better bet.

Other information suggests ageratum, agastache cana, catnip, rosemary, and marigolds.

With any plant, the effect will be much more potent from crushed leaves or even oil made from the plant (like citronella oil).

3. Mosquito Zapping Devices

The problem with mosquito-attracting and mosquito-killing devices is that they don't discriminate. They'll kill beneficial insects along with the mosquitoes, defeating part of the purpose of a wildlife porch.

However, if you must use a device, check out the Flowtron Electronic Insect Killer or this handheld electronic flyswatter, or, rather, insect swatter may also work.

4. Other Means

Other ways to deter or kill mosquitoes include repelling lamps, repellent granules, or incense sticks.