There’s been quite a bit of rain here the past few weeks, and pools of water have been collecting in my yard, so I’ve been concerned about mosquitoes laying eggs.
In an effort to try and find a solution that didn’t involve the use of unsafe chemicals, I did some research and discovered that pest control experts used mosquito pellets to prevent mosquito larvae from growing into adult mosquitoes.
Here’s what I learned about mosquito pellets, their benefits, and their environmental impact:
Mosquito pellets (also known as “bits”) contain a natural insecticide called BTI (or Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), which degrades rapidly and does not contaminate the soil and ground water with toxic chemicals.
BTI is also harmless to humans and other wildlife, so it is a quick and effective way to control an area’s mosquito population without becoming a detriment to your yard’s ecosystem.
Mosquito pellets can start killing mosquito larvae within a day after you drop the pellets in the water. The pellets dissolve into the water and the BTI released is fatal when larvae eat it, but is harmless to humans and other animals.
Though mosquito pellets work relatively quickly, they usually last 7 – -14 days before you have to reapply them.
Another similar product which can help regulate the mosquito population in your yard is a mosquito dunk. A mosquito dunk is a doughnut shaped insecticide that dissolves slowly over a longer period of time (usually about 30 days).
By using a combination of both the mosquito pellets and dunks, you can prevent your yard from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and as a bonus, they‘re both eco-friendly!
Have you tried using mosquito pellets or dunks? If so, have they been effective? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below. We’d love to hear from you!
More Resources:
Mosquito Reviews: Mosquito Dunks
Urban Farm Online: Eliminate Mosquitos
National Pesticide Information Center: BTI Fact Sheet
Planet Natural: Mosquito Dunks
Always love to see a safe alternative to get rid of those pesty mosquitoes!
glad you liked it!
Where are they available for purchase?
Sonja, you can find dunks and pellets at most home improvement stores and lawn & garden locations. i’ve seen them at my local hardware store.
I’ll be looking for these. Thanks
I love the mosquito dunks! I use them in my pond…totally safe for pets, people, and pond life. My pond was standing water for years and have never had a mosquito issue while using dunks. I’d much rather use that than spray bug spray or insecticides.
We don’t get a lot of mosquitos in our area, but this is great info! <3