The No. 1 question I get anytime I post a story about us entertaining in our backyard is, “How do you host people outside without mosquitos eating you alive?” If you didn’t know, we live in a humid area in North Carolina, and without intervention, we’d be under siege for half the year! It’s a real problem for many people—and one we continually deal with while spending time outdoors.
More than most people, I’m apprehensive about mosquitos. I don’t know if I’ve ever shared this, but I got the West Nile virus during my mission in Iowa. And I’m convinced it may have triggered some of my auto-immune issues. I’m not even someone that gets a lot of mosquito bites! Some people don’t react to them as much. I’ve heard that it might be because of your blood type?
(Sidebar: Crazy story…my blood type changed after I had Greta! It doesn’t make any sense. Both of my parents have negative blood types, and I went from O negative to O positive. Have you ever heard of that??)
If you’re struggling to enjoy your backyard in the height of mosquito season, there is hope. I want to share some ways you can mitigate pests whether you’re dining al fresco or sitting around the fire pit in the evening. But I do want to temper your expectations: you’re not going to ever completely remove them. That’s just reality. But these steps can help!
Have Your Yard Sprayed for Pests
We get our yard sprayed by Mosquito Joe (one of the jobs we prefer to hire out) for around $80/month. Once we heard about the more natural option that uses essential oils, such as lemongrass, peppermint or rosemary, that was our first choice. (Chris doesn’t want to deter the fireflies). But caveat, it’s not perfect. We were entertaining last weekend and some people got mosquito bites. It may be controversial, but I am considering the traditional spray. Listen, I’m not here to judge anyone’s choices, but I respect yours!
Shop All Bug Repellants
Citronella Candles or Tiki Torches
Citronella oil (derived from tropical grasses) has been shown to repel biting insects—the EPA even has a page on it. It works on insects without killing them; it actually is an intense odor that makes it tricky for some pests to find hosts. (How lovely.) This is a very natural option—the only real side effect could be skin irritation. The downside is that it things with fragrance aren’t going to cover a lot of ground. But hey, it also serves as an ambiance-enhancer.
There is one other option that’s category-adjacent that I’ve been researching. It’s a Thermacell Repeller, which is EPA-approved and uses allethrin instead of DEET to infuse the air with repellant. Some people have said it works pretty well. However, big caveat that you’re not supposed to use this around places where you’re eating, drinking or cooking. And it’s highly toxic to fish, bees, and cats.
Nets Over Food
Net Food Covers
Ever since I got mesh dome “cloches” that can go over platters and plates, I’ve never looked back. It’s so easy to put these out over food that may be out for a bit, like salsas. And it really helps keep out the flies!
Oscillating Fan
If you’re setting out food for a backyard dinner, there’s a good chance there will be either some flies attracted to the food or if it’s in the evening you might see some moths. An oscillating fan makes the biggest difference: whether you have a ceiling fan, a standing fan or even table fans. Plus, you get the double benefit of staying cool. What’s not to love?
Table Fans
Bug Spray
Last but not least, the most inconvenient and yet most effective option: insect repellant spray. In the mudroom right next to the cabinet right before you go outside, I store all of our sunscreen and our bug spray in a basket. But I should just have it out! Right now, I have the bright orange cans, but someone on our team swears by the Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent. It’s been scientifically studied and is second-most effective after DEET-based sprays (less potential toxicity plus it smells better).
If all else fails, you could try installing a bat house. Researchers found that North American bats have the potential to control mosquito populations—a single bat can consume 600-1,000 mosquitos an hour. I’m not going that route just yet—the idea of having them infiltrate my house is just too unsavory for me!
Hopefully, one or more of these will help you get outside and enjoy time with your loved ones. If you’re looking to have a “bug-reduced” summer, I’ve rounded up all of my recommendations here for you to shop!