5 mosquito-fighting methods that work and 4 that don’t

Layering on the bug spray might be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about avoiding itchy mosquito bites and the diseases that can come with them. But that’s far from the only tactic that mosquito experts use to minimize bites.

For starters, Eva Buckner, an assistant professor and state extension specialist at the UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, recommends taking a step back and considering the source of the bugs, especially if you live in a home with a yard, deck, or other outdoor areas. Your No. 1 move, she said, is to clear the pockets of water that might be luring the bugs to your space in the first place.

From there, she recommends a variety of products to repel the biting adults — some of which you might already have at home.

“Mosquito eggs require water to hatch, and the larval stage is aquatic,” Buckner said. Walking around your home once a week and dumping even the smallest amounts of standing water — for example, in plant pot saucers, dog pools, tarps, or garbage can lids with indentations — can eliminate mosquito larvae and cut down on the habitat necessary for adult mosquitoes to breed, she said. A chat with your neighbors to make sure they’re doing the same can also go a long way toward reducing the number of biting adults that end up in your vicinity.

If there’s a source of standing water near your home that you can’t or don’t want to remove, such as a bird fountain or pond, Buckner suggests tossing in mosquito bits (granules) or mosquito dunks (doughnut-shaped disks) once a month. These contain Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, or Bti, a bacteria that can kill developing mosquito larvae without harming other wildlife.

You can also make a DIY mosquito trap by filling a dark bucket with water and some leaves, and popping in a mosquito dunk. Female mosquitoes will be drawn to the bucket to lay their eggs, but the Bti will ensure they never hatch.

The same active ingredients that repel mosquitoes in EPA-registered bug sprays can be found in other topical formats such as lotions, gels, and wipes — and to similar effect, said Buckner.

“I like using products that contain DEET, which I know may not be everyone’s favorite ingredient because it can be a little oily-feeling and may damage plastics,” Buckner said, such as eyeglass frames, watch faces, and synthetic clothing, but “it is the absolute gold standard for preventing mosquito and tick bites.”

If you’re looking for another option, she recommends products containing the following EPA-approved ingredients for this purpose: picaridin, a synthetic chemical mimicking compounds in black pepper plants; oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE); para-menthane-diol, the active compound in OLE that can be synthesized in a lab; or IR3535, a synthetic compound similar to a natural amino acid.

Among the above choices, the best format is just a matter of personal preference, Buckner said.

Loose-fitting long-sleeve shirts and pants are a great defense against mosquitoes because “they create an effective barrier between you and the mosquito proboscis,” or its tubelike mouthpart, Buckner said. If you’re wearing tighter-fitted clothing, it may pierce right through it.

To make it less likely that a mosquito approaches you in the first place, you could also wear clothing that’s been treated with permethrin, a synthetic insecticide that mimics a repelling compound naturally found in chrysanthemums, Buckner said. (It can also ward off ticks.)

You can buy clothing that’s been pretreated with permethrin, or if you want to save some money, you could buy a 0.5% permethrin spray and spritz down a couple articles you own.

Buckner emphasized following the package instructions when using any at-home permethrin product. It’s important to wait until treated clothing is dry before wearing it and to avoid using permethrin directly on your skin as it can be severely irritating.

Permethrin is generally safe for dogs but can be highly toxic for cats. However, once a spray has dried onto clothes, it should be fine. Just make sure to use caution.

These devices create a bubble of protection by slowly releasing an invisible, odorless vapor containing a mosquito-deterring ingredient. The key is to look for ones that have the chemical actives metofluthrin, transfluthrin or d-allethrin, Buckner said. Thermacell and Off! make several versions, including tabletop and patio lanterns — which can create a protective cloud spanning the surrounding 15- to 20-foot space — as well as smaller battery-powered devices and clip-ons you can take or wear on the go.

Spatial emanators, also called spatial repellents, are most effective in still, non-windy conditions, Buckner noted, when the chemical cloud is less likely to be dispersed or blown away. Unless you’re holding or wearing a clip-on emanator, it’s also best to stay close to the emanating device, she added. The farther away you move, the less coverage you’ll receive.

If you’ll be staying in one place for a while, for instance having dinner in your backyard or hanging out on the porch, it’s worth setting a big box or oscillating fan nearby, whether on a table or the ground.

“Mosquitoes aren’t super strong fliers,” Buckner said.

The breeze created by a fan set on high speed can make it tricky for mosquitoes to fly near you and land, or may even physically push them away from you, she explained. (If you’re already using a spatial emanator, however, it’s best not to involve a fan, too, as the extra airflow could blow away the protective scent cloud.)

Combining any number of the above repellents will give you a supercharged dose of protection.

What won’t help, however, is opting for the below products and tactics, which Buckner said aren’t proven, effective mosquito solutions: