Nothing says summer like mosquitoes bombarding you every time you step outside. I am a mosquito magnet so I'm always looking for ways to reduce their presence in my yard. The most surefire way is to rid your yard and garden of any standing water that mosquitoes can breed in.
Unfortunately, bird baths are often just little puddles of stagnant water and can become hospitable mosquito breeding grounds very quickly. But fear not, there are a few very cheap and easy ways to keep your backyard birds hydrated while also getting rid of mosquitos in the garden.
Read on to learn more about mosquitoes and how to prevent mosquitoes in bird baths.
Mosquito Life Cycle
Backyard mosquito control can feel like a never-ending task when summer rains constantly pool on every surface. Standing water mosquitoes lay eggs on the surface of pools of water. The eggs hatch within 24-48 hours and progress through the larval and pupal stage. They reach the blood-sucking adult stage after approximately 7-10 days. After the adults emerge, female mosquitoes will bite humans and animals in order to supplement their diet with protein to develop eggs.
Mosquitoes are part of our ecosystem whether we like them or not. And, unfortunately, mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria, dengue fever, West Nile virus, Zika virus, chikungunya, and yellow fever sicken hundreds of millions of people and result in the death of more than 600,000 people around the globe each year.
There are few things we can do to keep ourselves and our neighbors safe and itch-free this summer. Don't make one of the classic bird bath mistakes and leave this to chance. Let’s explore how to prevent mosquitoes from taking up residence in your bird bath.
1. Change Bird Bath Water Regularly
Every bird garden needs a bird bath, but they can become mosquito pits without proper care. The cheapest and easiest way to prevent mosquitoes in your bird bath is simply by changing the water every few days. Mosquitoes reach maturity within 7-10 days, so changing bird bath water every few days can interrupt their life cycle.
It is important to make sure you dump out all the water. Some species of mosquitoes only need a tablespoon of water to lay eggs, so taking steps to clean a bird bath can make all the difference.
Spraying out the bird bath with a hose is a great way to ensure there are no eggs left behind. The high-flow Vego retractable hose reel in the Gardening Know How Shop is perfect to clean bird baths, water plants, and cool down in the summer.
2. Install A Bird Bath Bubbler
Another easy way to control mosquitoes in your bird bath without having to lift a finger is to install a bubbler. Mosquitoes need stagnant water so a simple bubbler can move the bird bath water around and make it harder for the larvae to survive.
You can purchase a new bird bath fabricated with a bubbler, or you can add a bubbler to your existing bird bath. The Birds Choice stonecreek rock bird bath bubbler from Lowe’s has a quick and easy setup and begins working immediately.
3. Use Mosquito Dunks
Mosquito dunks, or mosquito bits, are another great option for mosquito control in bird baths, ponds, and other collections of standing water you cannot easily change. These larvicide treatments are cheap and effective.
Dunks are made with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) which is a bacteria that is toxic to mosquito larvae. They are safe for your backyard birdies, pets, fish, and humans and applications last for 30 days.
They are a great option for a bird bath that isn’t attended, like if you are out of town for a few weeks this summer. Mosquito dunks can be found on Amazon.
4. DIY Drip System
This is another system that will keep the surface of your bird bath water moving so mosquitoes won’t lay eggs and it is a great way to reuse items you might already have on hand. All you need is:
- An old plastic jug like a milk jug or even a kitty litter jug that has been cleaned
- String or rope
- A screw
- A tree near your bird bath or shepherd’s crook
- Water
Take the clean jug and hang it above your bird bath from a nearby tree or a shepherd’s crook like you might use to hang a bird feeder. Once the jug is hung above the bird bath, turn the screw into the plastic at the bottom edge of the jug and leave it.
Now, fill the jug with water from your hose and adjust the screw at the bottom to change the amount of water dripping from it. Even a slow drip should disturb the surface of the water enough to deter mosquitoes from laying eggs and the next generation of bothersome skeeters.
Boost your mosquito-repelling abilities by using potted plans that repel mosquitoes around your patio or yard. They are great for other pollinators, but mosquitoes hate them.
Mosquitoes are annoying pests and they cause illness and death around the globe every year, but you can take control of your yard and keep mosquitoes out of the bird bath with these cheap and simple solutions.
This article features products available from third-party vendors in the Gardening Know How Shop.
