Keeping Mosquitoes Out of Rain Barrels

Rain barrels are used to collect rainwater from rooftops, which can be used for watering gardens, washing cars or flushing toilets. This method of harvesting rainwater cuts down the cost of water usage in the household and conserves water. However, rain barrels with standing water can also become rich breeding grounds for mosquitoes. There are ways you can keep mosquitoes out of rain barrels and help reduce mosquito breeding sites.

The things you'll need are minnows or goldfish, mosquito dunks, plastic mesh window screen, cheesecloth and mosquito larvicide.

Empty rain barrels every four to six days. Female mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water. It only takes seven to 14 days for the egg to emerge into an adult mosquito.

Add mosquito-eating fish into the rain barrels. Minnows or goldfish, for example, are known to eat mosquito larvae. Provide adequate ventilation for the fish inside the barrel, or they'll die.

Use small portions of mosquito dunks. Buy the product from most garden supply stores. Mosquito dunks are bacterial larvicide that kill mosquito larvae. These dunks slowly release an active ingredient, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), that kills mosquitoes for 30 days or more. They are safe for your plants and don't harm pets or people.

Cover the rain barrel with fine screening. Screens keep mosquitoes out and prevent them from laying eggs into the water. Secure plastic mesh window screening over your rain barrel's openings. Add cheesecloth on top of the screen as an additional filter.

Have an overflow hole on the rain barrel to keep the water level below the screen. Mosquitoes can breed in the water between the screen and the top of the water surface if the rain barrel is full to the top.

Aside from these, a good insect repellent band is also a good option. The Repeller Bug Band is a natural insect repellent bug bracelet that is DEET-free and safe for kids. Mosquitoes, including ticks, fleas, gnats, etc., will hate you for wearing this band. It has a formula that offers the best balanced proportion of 11 natural, organic essential oils and repels mosquitoes and fleas, gnats, ticks, ants and more! With this product, you get real protection without the use of dangerous sprays or powders!