'Tis the season to fire up that barbecue in your backyard. Whether it's on the Fourth of July, Labor Day, or somewhere in between, backyards everywhere are illuminated this summer. Unfortunately, pesky party-crashers have been known to put a damper on these festive occasions. They wait for just the right moment -- when you open the door to your house -- and then sneak in to wreak havoc on you, your family, and your guests. You might see them as they enter your home, but these quick little buggers are seldom stopped by slow-going humans. Who are these pests? Mosquitoes. It used to be that those of us who lived in drier climates were relatively immune from them, but over the years (I'll refrain from a lengthy discussion of El Niño), as climates have become more humid, the mosquito population has spread.

Mosquitoes depend on water to survive. That's great news to them in some parts of the United States, where average rainfall has been above average during the last few years. Take, for example, New England, recently besieged by rain, or the Midwest, ravaged by floods not so long ago. In response, the mosquito population has boomed. When we think about mosquitoes, most of us think of swamps or extremely humid conditions above and beyond normal conditions. Bad news: Mosquitoes actually can and do breed in your own backyard. Female mosquitoes only require a small amount of still water upon which to lay their eggs. How, then, does a home owner plan a counterattack against these uninvited party (and bedtime) guests? New Jersey-based "House Doctor" Thomas Kraeutler has a few tips to pass along.

Clean your gutters.

Leaf-clogged gutters encourage the formation of pools of stagnant water, which ultimately serve as "nests" for mosquito eggs. A home owner's best defense is to clean all gutters a minimum of four times per year, or go high-tech and install leaf guards in your gutters to keep them dry and protected.

Be on puddle patrol.

If you've noticed spots in your yard where water tends to collect, fill in these low areas with clean dirt. After you've built the area up, cover it with top soil, and use grass seed, sod, or mulch. And don't hesitate -- if that water remains unattended for just a few days, those mosquito eggs are going to hatch. And they hear you've got a great outdoor barbecue planned this weekend with several guests ... imagine the possibilities there!

Survey your yard.

Walk around your property, and look for any container that holds water -- empty flower pots, jars, wheelbarrows, buckets, and old tires are prime suspects. If you've got a trash can or recycling container sitting outdoors, make sure they've got holes in the bottom so that they can drain excess water. Children's outdoor toys, such as sand box covers and wading pools, may also collect stagnant water. And don't forget to check your bird bath. Flush it with clean water at least once a week to prevent stagnation.

Believe it or not, these simple (and free!) strategies are more effective than expensive citronella candles, stinky and sticky insect repellent (want to drive your guests away from you?), and revolting electric bug killers (ever had your dinner interrupted by the loud snap of a mosquito being electrified?), according to Kraeutler.

So take a stroll around your backyard before the big gathering begins. You'll keep those uninvited guests where they belong, and best of all, you're helping to burn off that steak you're about to fire up on the grill.

Published: July 10, 1998

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