Unfortunately, citronella candles, though popular, are not very effective inkeeping mosquitoes away.
That begs the question: What other repellents work against mosquitoes?
It includes eliminating all the sources in which mosquitoes breed and using different repellants.
The Spruce / Alex Dos Diaz
Use our tips and advice to develop your mosquito control strategy.
The Spruce / Alex Dos Diaz
How Mosquito-Repellent Are Citronella Candles?
You should think of citronella products, includingtiki torches, as just one layer of protection against mosquitoes.
Mireille Roy / Getty Images
Citronella candles do not keep mosquitoes out of your yard and they do nothing to prevent mosquitoes from multiplying.
Tip
When candles don’t work, tryapplying a bug repellent.
Some are quite effective for hours at a time, especially products with Picaridin as the active ingredient.
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
take steps to minimize their numbers.
Keep the yard neat to eliminate this problem.
The easiest solution is to treat the water with a larvicide that kills mosquito eggs.
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
Plants that hold water should be treated or flushed with fresh water every few days.
Mosquitoes can breed in the amount of water contained in an upturned bottlecap.
Eliminating potential breeding areas is the primary prevention method.
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
Many homeowners and professionals turn tomosquito trapsor chemicals for mosquito control.
They are non-selective and harm pollinators and other beneficial species of plants and animals.
However, these devices have not been scientifically proven to work.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Citronella General Fact Sheet.National Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University.
What Kind of Fish Eat Mosquito Larvae?Lake and Wetland Management Services,2021.
Parasites & Vectors, vol.
1, 2018. doi:10.1186/s13071-018-2866-9
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes.Consumer Reports.
Soko, White et al.Insecticide Resistance in Malaria-Transmitting Mosquitoes in Zimbabwe: A Review.Infectious Diseases of Poverty, vol.
46, 2015. doi:10.1186/s40249-015-0076-7
Mosquito Info.
Frequently Asked Questions, Do Bug-Zappers Work?American Mosquito Control Association.
Mosquito Misting Systems.United States Environmental Protection Agency.
