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You love to relax on the lawn, but it has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Inviting natural enemies can help make your yard less attractive to these flying insects.
There are artificial mosquito repellents and then there are all-natural mosquito repellents, and by all-natural, we mean members of the animal kingdom. These are bugs that open their mouths, bite and swallow a mosquito, and help in the fight against mosquitoes.
Unfortunately, they are few and far between as it appears as we stand on the back porch trying to enjoy the sunset. But if you give them a chance, these nine mosquito eaters (and one known mosquito killer) will help keep your garden pest-free.
In this article, we show you some insects, birds, and amphibians that mosquitoes may eat in your garden and how to invite them.
What Eats Mosquitoes on Your Lawn?
Spiders
As much as spiders can give you goosebumps, spiders help control Earth’s insect population. Without spiders, insects would eat our entire crop.
Instead of shouting obscenities when some spiders cast their webs in your yard, you can thank them for catching some of the yard’s midges. Provide a shelter, e.g. B. a fallen flower pot. Spiders usually spawn alone, but there’s no harm in helping them.
Decorate with outdoor lights at night. These can help attract spiders, especially since the lights attract insects to eat (e.g. mosquitoes).
Although spiders can be of great help in your yard and garden, remember that some spiders have a venomous bites, including black widow and brown recluse spiders.
Aquatic Beetles
Adult water beetles and larvae engulf mosquito larvae. Aquatic beetles include the predatory diving beetle and scavenging beetle, which trap air pockets under their wings for underwater breathing.
Add a garden pond or water garden with shallow areas to your yard. Keep the water well-oxygenated to allow aquatic beetles to breathe (well-oxygenated water also prevents algae growth).
If you have fish, add vegetation around the pond so the bugs can hide. Add landscape lighting around your pond or water garden – water bugs are attracted to the light at night.
Note that water beetles are incompatible with some mosquito feeders. For example, while some tadpoles eat mosquitoes, water beetles eat tadpoles. Similarly, the fish help eats mosquitoes, but they also eat water bugs.
Bats
Bats are often associated with disease, night terrors, spooky caves, and vampires. Insect population under control. While bats cannot reduce mosquito populations to zero (they prefer hearty foods like moths and beetles), there is some evidence that bats eat mosquitoes more frequently than previously thought.
And remember, while bats carry disease, you should be safe if you leave them alone. Mount a bat box 12 to 20 feet off the ground (or higher vegetation below the bat box) and 20 to 30 feet from tree branches.
Place the bat house in an area that receives 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day and away from artificial lights at night.
Add a water feature to your garden, e.g. B. a garden pond or fountain. Grow plants that bloom at night. Bats are nocturnal pollinators and will be happy to see that their new home has other pollinators to feed on.
Birds
Birds love to devour common lawn pests, including maggots, ants, and mosquitoes. Some of the best mosquito-eating birds include the purple margins and barn swallows.
Install bird feeders in your garden. Add a bird bath to your garden (drain the water every six days to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs). Plant bushes or trees that will bear fruit, such as berries and cherries. Plant a garden with native plants.
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Dragonflies
Dragonflies have delicate, slender bodies while dragonflies have bulky bodies. Dragonflies close their wings and raise them vertically when they land, while dragonflies leave their wings open horizontally.
Dragonflies are also strong fliers, while dragonflies are smooth, fluttering fliers. Dragonflies and dragonflies are brightly colored with beautiful patterns.
They add a bit of charm to your garden pond, but they are also strong mosquito eaters. Create a garden pond or water garden to attract dragonflies and dragonflies.
Plant submerged aquatic plants in your garden pond or water garden so that these insects can lay their eggs on the vegetation. Grow pollinating flowers to feed spinsters and dragonflies. other insects.
Avoid using pesticides in your landscape. Don’t be surprised if your thriving dragonfly community dwindles after adding fish to the pond. Fish will no doubt delight in dragonfly and dragonfly larvae.
Salamander
Salamanders are carnivores and will hunt almost anything that moves in water, including mosquito larvae. It doesn’t hurt that salamanders are also pretty to look at, with their bright spot patterns.
Salamanders are sometimes referred to as newts, but not all salamanders are newts. Newts are a type of salamander and often move around garden ponds. Build a garden or garden pond. Stack rocks or logs around the pond for the salamanders to hide under.
Ensure salamanders have access to both sun and shade. Avoid using pesticides in your garden. Attract the salamanders’ food sources such as worms, snails, and insects.
Fish
While bugs and dragonflies can mind their own business, adding fish to your pond is like adopting a new pet. Fortunately, you don’t have to train the fish to eat mosquito larvae, but you do need to conserve their habitat and provide them with food. Fish that feed on mosquito larvae include Bass Bluegills, Catfish, Gambusia, and Goldfish.
Gambusia, also known as mosquito fish, is the best mosquito eater. A 3-inch Gambusia can eat up to 100 larvae per day. To add mosquito-eating fish to your garden pond, go to a local pet store and pick out some fish to take home.
Before adding fish to your water garden make sure your pond is big enough for the fish you want. Some fish may outgrow the pond or the pond may not be deep enough for their hibernation.
Obtain a pond test kit to make sure the water is safe. Research the fish you want to select and learn what water temperature they need.
Before putting the fish in the pond, let the fish bag float in the pond water for 20 minutes so that the fish can slowly get used to the water temperature. Otherwise, you could electrocute the fish if you put them in the water too quickly.
Depending on the fish you buy, you may need a filtration system. Start slowly. Wait a week or two before adding new fish to the pond. You want to make sure the pond is a healthy environment before adding all the fish at once.
Learn how to properly care for your pond and how to care for your specific fish. Add water lilies and aquatic vegetation to protect the fish from predators.
Adult frogs
Adult frogs may suckle on a gnat or two, but gnats are not an essential part of their diet. In all tadpoles eat mosquito larvae, and some species like a snack, such as a spadefoot toad and green tree frog.
Install a water garden or garden pond in the landscape. Add aquatic plants to the pond. Don’t use pesticides in the garden. Fish are natural enemies of frogs and tadpoles.
Keep the water a bit cloudy. Frogs are not fans of crystal-clear water. Create caves and crevices with cairns so the frogs have a place to hide and find shade.
Which Mosquito Predator Is The Most Effective For Natural Mosquito Control?
Most mosquito eaters require a garden pond to begin with, but you will likely have fewer mosquitoes if you don’t build a garden pond. It is because water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
On the other hand, if your yard already has bodies of water, these critters can help you eat mosquitoes.
Another reason why nature alone is not always enough to combat mosquitoes is that most animals eat more than just mosquitoes.
In other words, mosquitoes are generally an insignificant part of the natural diet of most living things. The Purple Swallow can eat about 2,000 mosquitoes per day (that’s a lot of mosquitoes).
A purple swallow is more likely to eat a variety of insects than a whole diet of pesky mosquitoes. That’s not to say that the Purple Swallow (or other creatures) can’t be useful in mosquito control. We’re just saying that the bird’s mosquito-fighting abilities are over the top.
When all is said and done, the most effective natural enemies of mosquitoes are fish. The most effective species of fish for mosquito control is Gambusia affinis, also known as “mosquito fish”.
These fish aggressively feed on mosquito larvae, thereby reducing the surrounding mosquito population. They are considered to be an effective form of control for properties and locations with bodies of water.
Despite all these mosquito predators on the hunt, mosquito bites are still as common as rain. Considering that mosquitoes are known to transmit many diseases, this is not a fact to be taken lightly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Still, need more answers? Explore the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here.
What Is The Mosquito’s Natural Enemy?
Not only are dragonflies natural enemies of the mosquito, but they are also a fascinating and unique group of insects. Dragonflies are often referred to as “mosquito hawks” for their reputed ability to kill thousands of mosquitoes.
What Kills Mosquitoes in Your Backyard?
As long as you have places to play hide and seek, mosquitoes won’t want to leave. Remove the straws. A similar treatment for mosquitoes is the removal of straws. Remove standing water.
Add mosquito-repellent plants to your garden.
Why Is My Garden Full Of Mosquitoes?
Stagnant water in your garden Bloodworms feed on organic matter in stagnant water, so water that isn’t moving (such as a fountain) could become a major source.
What Time Of Day Is The Worst For Mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes are most active in the early morning hours before the sun is fully up and the air temperature is not as high. Mosquitoes find daylight deadly because direct sunlight can dry them out.
What Attracts Mosquitoes The Most?
Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide emitted by humans and other animals. They also use their receptors and eyesight to sense other cues, such as body heat, sweat, and skin odor, to find a potential host.
Can Some Clothes Attract Mosquitoes?
Yes, it seems mosquitoes are more attracted to dark-colored clothing.
What Causes Mosquitoes to Breed?
Mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs and reproduce. Because mosquitoes only need a few days to reproduce, mosquito populations can increase dramatically after heavy rains. Homeowners are most likely to find mosquito breeding sites in ditches, ponds, and puddles that persist for several days.
Final Thoughts
From the mighty mosquito fish to carnivorous salamanders, many critters will enjoy a mosquito buffet. Keep in mind that some creatures don’t mix well, so you’ll have to decide which animals you want to attract and keep.
Introducing natural mosquito-eating predators can help, but when a mosquito problem is preventing you from enjoying your lawn, it’s time to speak to a professional. Contact a local pest controller for more information on mosquito control options.