Mosquito Repellent for Patios

There are five distinct methods you can try to keep mosquitoes away from your patio.

A backyard cookout or gathering on your patio can be ruined by those annoying, biting mosquitoes. Simple spray-on repellent may not be enough to keep them away and instead you may wish to create a protective ring around you and your guests. There are various methods you can turn to if you want to keep those pesky mosquitoes away.

Citronella Candles

Citronella is a plant extract that is often used in soaps and shampoos, but has also been recognized by the EPA as a potent insect repellent. Many manufacturers make candles that contain citronella oil. When burned on a patio, the scent of the citronella will create a perimeter around the space that could keep mosquitoes and other flying insects like gnats at bay.

Sonic Repellents

Sonic repellents are tiny devices that use high-pitched sounds that manufacturers claim can keep mosquitoes away. They apparently mimic the calls of male mosquitoes so that female mosquitoes that already have fertilized eggs stay away, as they only bite to receive a blood meal for their newly fertilized eggs. However, these claims have been refuted by researchers such as those from the University of Wisconsin.

Chemical Agents

Certain devices spew a small amount of chemical repellent into the air at certain intervals. These repellents can include various insecticides and can come in torches, lanterns or coils. They can be electronic misters or simply burned like in the case of the torches and should create a perimeter of protection around your patio.

Rubbing Alcohol

Spraying rubbing alcohol into areas of standing water around your patio, particularly after a heavy rainstorm, can be an excellent preventative against mosquito infestations. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water like that found in pots or trashcans and introducing rubbing alcohol will kill off the next generation of mosquitoes before they have a chance to propagate.

Bug Zappers

Bug zappers do not act as a direct repellent of mosquitoes but can draw them away from your patio during twilight or nighttime. The zapper uses a strong light that is covered by a heavily electrified grate. When an insect such as a mosquito lands on the grate it is instantly incinerated with its remains falling into a dish below.

References

• University of Wisconsin: Sonic and Electronic Devices
• EPA: Citronella Oil Fact Sheet; November 1999
• Better Budgeting: Natural Mosquito Repellents; Deborah Taylor-Hough; 2003

Resources

• Mosquito Zapper