What Attracts Mosquitoes to a Yard?

Several common things in many yards across the country, including flood lights, attract mosquitoes. The pests thrive in warm areas that also have plenty of moisture. If you live near water such as a creek or a river or have standing water in gutters, or use bird baths to attract birds, you're likely attracting mosquitoes too. In addition to water and moisture, yard debris is a haven for mosquitos.

What Is the Best Time of Year to Treat for Mosquitoes?

The best time of year to treat for mosquitoes depends largely on where you live. That said, right before the warm-weather season starts is generally best. This is because mosquitoes will begin hatching when the weather is consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that, in some parts of the country, mosquito season can be year-round, meaning any time is a good time to treat for mosquitoes.

What Do Mosquito Control Companies Use to Treat Mosquitoes?

It is common for the best mosquito control companies to use an insecticide known as pyrethrin to effectively treat mosquitoes. These sprays are chemicals that have been derived from chrysanthemum flowers and are toxic to insects. While they are successful in defending your yard from the bug for a few weeks at a time when used in a single treatment or during regularly scheduled treatments during the season, these chemicals may be toxic to more than just mosquitoes, including butterflies, ladybugs, and bees.

Are There Environmentally Friendly Mosquito Treatments?

There are environmentally friendly mosquito treatments available you can use yourself and some that the best mosquito service companies will be able to offer you during your consultation. Garlic, for example, not only accentuates a meal you'd prepare in your kitchen, but it can help to repel mosquitoes outside in your yard too. Citronella too, when lit as oil in a torch or in a candle, may be able to protect a limited area from the problematic pests. Some local mosquito companies control the bugs and keep them off your property with sprays made from a blend of aromatic essential oils that is both safe for humans and animals.

How Long Do Professional Mosquito Treatments Last?

Traditional treatments, those consisting of chemical sprays, are the most commonly employed in the ongoing battle against mosquitoes and will typically prove effective for three weeks. At that point, additional treatments are required to ensure a pleasant season spent outside on your deck, patio, and lawn. Natural remedies for mosquito control have a shorter lifespan and need a reapplication every two to three weeks to maintain their effectiveness.

Do Citronella Plants Keep Mosquitoes Away?

While they have a distinct odor and are used as the natural ingredient in some mosquito repellent sprays, citronella grasses, and citronella plants alone will not keep the pests away from your patio, yard, and family. Citronella does help to repel mosquitoes, but you would need an entire yard’s worth of citronella candles burning to even stand a chance against the flying, biting bugs.

6 Best Mosquito Control Companies of 2023

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For bugs that don't stray too far from their breeding spots, weigh next to nothing, and only live for two weeks on average, mosquitos sure do cause a lot of problems! Their bites, which happen because female mosquitoes need blood to produce their hatchable eggs, can hurt and itch and make spending time outdoors less enjoyable than it should be. Naturally, you want nothing more than to keep the mosquitoes far, far away from your home's deck, patio, kids' playsets, and lawn in general. Additionally, you don't want to have to lather up your skin with bug repellent or have citronella candles burning every single time you and your family step outside. Thankfully, the best mosquito control companies have a solution that will make summertime more pleasant.

Choosing a local mosquito control company that provides the best mosquito service, at a price that fits within your budget, can seem overwhelming. Should you pick the best company for mosquito control that creates a protective barrier around your property or fumigates the area? How much will it cost, how long will it last, and is there an environmental impact of mosquito control? To help with your search, here are the six best mosquito control companies that will give you the mosquito-free summer you've been dreaming about.

Best Mosquito Control Companies of 2023

Best for Same-Day Service: Orkin
Best for Fast-Acting Treatments: Terminix
Best for Comprehensive Treatments: Ehrlich
Best for Special Event Treatments: Mosquito Joe
Best Regional Service: Viking Pest Control
Best Service Guarantee: Mosquito Shield

Best for Same-Day Service: Orkin

Get a Quote

Key Specs

Nationwide Availability: 48 states (all but Alaska and Wyoming)
Service Guarantee: 30-day money-back guarantee, free return visits, full refunds
Also Treats: Termites, ticks, ants, bedbugs, cockroaches, flies, centipedes, fleas, mites, rodents, moths, spiders, stink bugs, silverfish, earwigs, crickets, and more

Pros & Cons

Pros

Free quotes and inspections
Mosquito treatment also gets rid of spotted lanternflies
Same-day service (contact Orkin before noon)
Unique mosquito control treatment plans tailored to your needs and budget

Cons

No set price for the best mosquito service

Why It Made the List

Orkin makes our list as the best mosquito control service because of the training its professionals receive (160 hours), the availability of service (in nearly every state in the country), and the number of branches (over 400) that allow for same-day and emergency service—call before noon for same-day service. In addition, Orkin provides free inspections and quotes to custom-build the best mosquito service for you and your exact needs.

Before you schedule your backyard barbecues and prepare the children's playset for another summer season of fun, Orkin can spray synthetic chemicals and natural insecticides outside, prevent eggs from hatching, and educate you on how to take some relatively simple steps to reduce the likelihood of mosquitos getting into your home. In the event Orkin's mosquito control plans fail to meet your expectations, you are backed by the company's 30-day money-back guarantee, free visits in between treatments as needed, and a generous full refund policy if the mosquitos are still sticking around.

Best for Fast-Acting Treatments: Terminix

Get a Quote

Key Specs

Nationwide Availability: 45 states
Service Guarantee: Nix Pest Guarantee (free return visits in between mosquito treatments)
Also Treats: Termites, bedbugs, silverfish, cockroaches, moths, crickets, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, ticks, wildlife, spiders, stink bugs, mice, and other rodents

Pros & Cons

Pros

First mosquito service for as low as $49
Season-long service and one-off treatments available
Instant quotes online

Cons

No specific details about the chemicals used in its mosquito treatments

Why It Made the List

Terminix serves the majority of the U.S. and gets to work before the summer season starts in earnest. While Terminix offers long-term mosquito control plans, it also provides one-time treatments, in the event you are scheduling a graduation, wedding, or other special celebration outside in your yard. Just like the usual treatment plan, the one-time mosquito control service includes an inspection of your home to locate any mosquito breeding sites and both liquid and granular treatments that kill and repel mosquitos. And because its powerful treatment begins to work immediately, you and your family can head outside without fear of mosquito bites.

Terminix offers instant quotes online when you enter your home address, with no other contact information needed to see pricing. With Terminix mosquito control, you can continue to water your lawn and mow the grass knowing that the special polymer layer it uses is helping to protect the active ingredient in the treatments against all kinds of spring and summer weather and won't be impacted by the sprinkler your kids are running through in the backyard.

Best for Comprehensive Treatments: Ehrlich

Erhlich

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Key Specs

Nationwide Availability: 18 states and Washington, D.C.
Service Guarantee: Unlimited re-treatment guarantee
Also Treats: Bedbugs, termites, bees, wasps, bird control, cockroaches, mice and rats, fleas, flies, ticks, wildlife management, snakes, spiders, spotted lanternflies, and stink bugs

Pros & Cons

Pros

Full season monthly service or single treatments available
Barrier treatments using EPA-registered products
Mosquito control can be bundled with Ehrlich's PestFree365+ service

Cons

Limited service area, only on the East Coast and in some midwestern states
Call centers open only Monday through Friday

Why It Made the List

Biting, blood-sucking bugs have been around for millions of years, but thanks to the best mosquito control companies, they don't have to be around in your yard this summer. With Ehrlich's PestFree365+ service, your family, home, and property will all be protected from over three dozen of the most common household pests, including ants, bees, and flies, while also receiving monthly outdoor mosquito treatments. What makes it one of the best mosquito control companies is the barrier Ehrlich creates around your yard with EPA-registered products sprayed where mosquitoes rest, including in weeds, shrubs, low-hanging tree limbs, mulch, and the underside of decks.

Ehrlich's professionals know every millimeter of these tiny pests, have expert intel on every species wreaking havoc in your area, and understand their breeding habits. This means that you can rest assured that Ehrlich's treatments will work quickly, last long, and—best of all—leave absolutely no odor. Any standing water is treated as well, effectively eliminating potential breeding sites in your yard. Plus, the company prioritizes consumer education, helping you identify the source of your mosquito problem and make adjustments to your property to reduce the bug population in your yard.

Best for Special Event Treatments: Mosquito Joe

Mosquito Joe

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Key Specs

Nationwide Availability: 39 states
Service Guarantee: Mosquito Joe's Satisfaction Guarantee promises to make it right or your money back
Also Treats: Ticks, fleas, gnats, spotted lanternflies, and rodents

Pros & Cons

Pros

Treatments take just 10 to 20 minutes
Special event treatments that include a barrier spray and bug-repelling plants
Member of the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program
Natural solutions of garlic and essential oils available

Cons

No fixed price for mosquito treatments

Why It Made the List

Among the best local mosquito control companies, Mosquito Joe is the finest choice for making sure your outdoor graduation party, summer barbecue, wedding, and family reunion isn't ruined by pesky mosquitoes. The company offers single-treatment special event service that includes barrier sprays, positioning insect-repelling plants around your property, putting citronella torches in the ground, and placing mosquito dunks in birdbaths and gutters, all before your guests arrive and food is served.

For everyday summertime mosquito treatment, Mosquito Joe installs an effective barrier through a spray that kills mosquitoes and other pests on contact. The process begins with a Mosquito Joe professional locating breeding spots and then customers will be given detailed recommendations on how to eliminate common outdoor elements to prevent mosquito populations from multiplying. The administered spray treatment bonds to the foliage in the open-air spaces around your property and repels mosquitos for up to three weeks. If natural mosquito protection is what you're looking for, you'll love that Mosquito Joe has a garlic option to repel the biting bugs as well as a blend of essential oils to exterminate the pests on contact.

Best Regional Service: Viking Pest Control

Viking Pest Control

Get a Quote

Key Specs

Nationwide Availability: 4 states
Service Guarantee: Unlimited re-treatment guarantee
Also Treats: Cicadas, moths, spiders, termites, ants, bats, hornets, earwigs, stink bugs, wasps, water bugs, mites, cockroaches, fleas, beetles, bees, birds, and more

Pros & Cons

Pros

No-obligation free inspections and estimates
Online scheduling
Residential and commercial building protection available
Mosquito and tick control treatment bundle

Cons

Service area limited to just four Mid-Atlantic states

Why It Made the List

Because they can carry harmful diseases, mosquitoes kill more people across the globe each year than any other animal or insect. Even some of the mosquito species found in Viking Pest Control's service area of New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware have been known to carry diseases like the West Nile virus, Yellow Fever, and the Zika virus. Viking's Yard Guard pest control program promises to manage the breeding population of mosquitoes on your property and minimize the mosquito population this summer. Even after just one simple treatment, the mosquitoes will become infected, and steer clear of your backyard. What's better is that this treatment service also protects your family and pets from ticks in season, from April through October.

Now is the time to build that protective barrier around your outdoor spaces and have the freedom of a mosquito-free zone in and around your home. Viking's online scheduling tool also lets you invest in pest control quickly and conveniently with just a few clicks and allows you to start getting ready for a bite-free summer.

Best Service Guarantee: Mosquito Shield

Get a Quote

Key Specs

Nationwide Availability: 31 states
Service Guarantee: Guaranteed Protection Plan with a full money-back guarantee
Also Treats: Ticks, spiders, and ants

Pros & Cons

Pros

Three-pronged approach for full season mosquito control management
Treatments are adjusted based on the mosquito population and weather conditions
Significant reduction in mosquitoes guaranteed after the first treatment
Added polymer in the treatment spray shields the mosquito barrier from light to moderate rain

Cons

Treats a limited number of pests
No natural treatment option

Why It Made the List

Mosquito Shield’s guarantee is second to none. The company is so confident in its ability to protect your home, lawn, and family that if you don’t see a significant decrease in mosquitoes within seven days of your first treatment, you can cancel the service and receive a full refund. This means you essentially have nothing to lose and an entire summer spent outside in your yard without mosquitoes to gain.

The treatment process begins by eliminating the current mosquitoes causing you and your family problems outside your home using a wax-based water-repellent spray that forms a barrier around your property. Then after locating areas that may potentially attract mosquitos, Mosquito Shield creates a vertical barrier with its treatment to further protect your property. With each technician’s visit throughout the season, occurring approximately every 10 to 17 days, the barrier gets more effective at keeping mosquitos away from your family and pets.

Together with its Guaranteed Protection Plan, Mosquito Shield’s three-pronged approach makes it one of the best mosquito control companies on the market. Additionally, its expanded regional presence, covering almost two-thirds of the country, makes the company a great choice to kill existing bugs and prevent new ones from returning all summer long.

Final Thoughts

The best mosquito control companies offer a mix of affordable services and protective barriers using natural ingredients to let you enjoy the outdoors without worrying about mosquito bites. When you need service quickly for a mosquito problem, Orkin is the best company for same-day mosquito control, but other services like Ehrlich and Terminix offer full-season protection that also exterminates dozens of other household pests. If you're looking for last-minute or extra coverage for an event, consider Mosquito Joe's special event treatment that combines barrier sprays with mosquito-repelling plants. And finally, Mosquito Shield offers a full refund guarantee that it will keep your yard safe all summer long.

Compare the Best Mosquito Control Companies

Company	Nationwide Availability	Service Guarantee	Free Consultation?	Also Treats
Orkin Best for Same-Day Service	48 states	30-day money-back guarantee	Yes	Ticks, termites, ants, bedbugs, cockroaches, flies, centipedes, fleas, mites, rodents, moths, spiders, stink bugs, silverfish, earwigs, crickets, and more
Terminix Best for Fast-Acting Treatments	45 states	Nix Pest Guarantee (free return visits in between mosquito treatments)	Yes	Bedbugs, termites, silverfish, cockroaches, moths, crickets, centipedes, millipedes, ticks, wildlife, spiders, stink bugs, scorpions, mice, and other rodents
Ehrlich Best for Comprehensive Treatments	18 states and Washington, D.C.	Unlimited re-treatment guarantee	Yes	Termites, bedbugs, bees, wasps, cockroaches, mice and rats, fleas, flies, ticks, bird control, wildlife management, snakes, spiders, spotted lanternflies, and stink bugs
Mosquito Joe Best for Special Event Treatments	39 states	Mosquito Joe's Satisfaction Guarantee promises to make it right or your money back	Yes	Ticks, fleas, gnats, spotted lanternflies, and rodents
Viking Pest Control Best Regional Service	4 states	Unlimited re-treatment guarantee	Yes	Cicadas, moths, spiders, ants, bats, hornets, earwigs, stink bugs, wasps, water bugs, mites, cockroaches, fleas, beetles, bees, termites, birds, and more
Mosquito Shield Best Service Guarantee	31 states	Guaranteed Protection Plan with a full money-back guarantee	Yes	Ticks, ants, and spiders

Guide to Choosing a Mosquito Control Company

Here are the criteria to consider when choosing the right exterminator and the best mosquito control service to do the job correctly and act professionally from first contact to making payment:

Reputation

What are people saying about the company? Check recent reviews, especially from neighbors, to find out about the reputations of the local mosquito control companies before picking one to come out for an inspection. Many companies have regional offices, so check for local information and reviews versus the corporate outlook.

Experience

It’s not that newcomers can't do good work, but experienced professionals will know where to look for mosquitoes and find their potential breeding grounds, and they’ll use that knowledge to effectively get rid of them and protect your yard. Look for companies that invest in properly training their employees and find out how long the company has been in business.

Local Area Expertise

While there are national chains that do great work and provide same-day service, you may want to consider a locally owned and operated mosquito control company that knows the area firsthand, understands the habits of the species unique to your region, and is invested in the community.

Licenses and Insurance

Make sure that the company you want to use to protect your property and people from pesky mosquitos is licensed and insured in your state. This will guarantee that the company's employees have sufficient training and education to properly and safely treat your home and yard.

Availability

You may need regular service throughout the season, one-time treatment for a big event in your backyard, or emergency service. As you decide which of the best mosquito control companies is the best for you, make sure the company's availability aligns with your schedule.

Treatment Options

Full barrier treatment with a chemical spray or all-natural essential oils and mosquito dunks? Ask about the different treatment options available to ensure that you are not only going to get effective mosquito control but also the type of treatment you are comfortable with from an environmental or allergy standpoint.

Guarantees

Sometimes, treatments may not be effective the first time. You will want a guarantee that the mosquito control company you select backs up its service with either additional treatments at no charge or a full refund policy.

How Much Do Mosquito Treatments Usually Cost?

The national average cost for local mosquito control companies to treat your property is $450. The cost of the best mosquito service varies based on the size and overall condition of your yard and the number of potential breeding spots and may reach as high as $1,600.

Types of Mosquito Treatments

There isn't simply one way to defeat mosquitoes and defend your property from the flying bugs. Some companies will apply a spray, while others attack breeding spots, and the best company for mosquito control will also help you make changes to your property to reduce its attractiveness to mosquitoes. Take a look at some of the most common mosquito treatments.

Chemical Sprays / Barrier Treatment

The most common and effective way to control mosquitoes is a pesticide chemical spray that, when applied in season, keeps the bugs away for up to three weeks at a time.

Natural Treatment

Free of DEET, all-natural organic blends of potent essential oils can effectively repel mosquitoes while keeping your family and pets safe from allergens and from the chemicals used in typical treatments.

Garlic

Mosquitoes are repelled by this aromatic ingredient that’s also found in most kitchens. Some of the best mosquito control companies will employ this powerful natural food to keep the biting bugs away from your patio, deck, and outdoor play structures.

Citronella

An oil that's commonly derived from the leaves and stems of Cymbopogon (a cousin of lemongrass) and used in candles and torches has a mild citrus odor that is pleasant to people but hated by mosquitoes.

Mosquito Dunks

Used in backyard ponds, fountains, birdbaths, and other areas of standing water, dunks are considered safe for humans and animals, and provide long-term mosquito control.

How Effective Are Mosquito Treatments?

While there is no way to 100 percent guarantee complete protection from all mosquitos at all times, hiring local companies to treat your yard can protect your property, family, and pets from pests. In addition, lighting citronella candles, preparing your backyard for the summer season by removing log piles and debris, turning over or throwing away any items that collect water, and using bug repellent can help you reduce the risk of mosquito bites.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Attracts Mosquitoes to a Yard?

Several common things in many yards across the country, including flood lights, attract mosquitoes. The pests thrive in warm areas that also have plenty of moisture. If you live near water such as a creek or a river or have standing water in gutters, or use bird baths to attract birds, you're likely attracting mosquitoes too. In addition to water and moisture, yard debris is a haven for mosquitos.
What Is the Best Time of Year to Treat for Mosquitoes?

The best time of year to treat for mosquitoes depends largely on where you live. That said, right before the warm-weather season starts is generally best. This is because mosquitoes will begin hatching when the weather is consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that, in some parts of the country, mosquito season can be year-round, meaning any time is a good time to treat for mosquitoes.
What Do Mosquito Control Companies Use to Treat Mosquitoes?

It is common for the best mosquito control companies to use an insecticide known as pyrethrin to effectively treat mosquitoes. These sprays are chemicals that have been derived from chrysanthemum flowers and are toxic to insects. While they are successful in defending your yard from the bug for a few weeks at a time when used in a single treatment or during regularly scheduled treatments during the season, these chemicals may be toxic to more than just mosquitoes, including butterflies, ladybugs, and bees.
Are There Environmentally Friendly Mosquito Treatments?

There are environmentally friendly mosquito treatments available you can use yourself and some that the best mosquito service companies will be able to offer you during your consultation. Garlic, for example, not only accentuates a meal you'd prepare in your kitchen, but it can help to repel mosquitoes outside in your yard too. Citronella too, when lit as oil in a torch or in a candle, may be able to protect a limited area from the problematic pests. Some local mosquito companies control the bugs and keep them off your property with sprays made from a blend of aromatic essential oils that is both safe for humans and animals.
How Long Do Professional Mosquito Treatments Last?

Traditional treatments, those consisting of chemical sprays, are the most commonly employed in the ongoing battle against mosquitoes and will typically prove effective for three weeks. At that point, additional treatments are required to ensure a pleasant season spent outside on your deck, patio, and lawn. Natural remedies for mosquito control have a shorter lifespan and need a reapplication every two to three weeks to maintain their effectiveness.
Do Citronella Plants Keep Mosquitoes Away?

While they have a distinct odor and are used as the natural ingredient in some mosquito repellent sprays, citronella grasses, and citronella plants alone will not keep the pests away from your patio, yard, and family. Citronella does help to repel mosquitoes, but you would need an entire yard’s worth of citronella candles burning to even stand a chance against the flying, biting bugs.

Methodology

We reviewed more than a dozen mosquito control companies to find the best choices based on a mix of criteria, including range of treatment options, environmental consciousness, professional accreditations, and nationwide availability. We also took into account customer reviews and ratings, as well as any satisfaction guarantees offered by the businesses.

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