How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Chicago

Residents of the Windy City know a thing or two about dealing with mosquitoes. But what should you do when a colony of mosquitoes makes your property their new home? Eliminate standing water, grab your favorite fan, and follow these proven tips on how to get rid of mosquitoes in Chicago.

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes Outdoors in Chicago

Your first defense in protecting your family and home from mosquitoes is to rid your outdoor areas of those pesky bloodsuckers. The fewer mosquitoes hanging around your backyard, the less likely they are to make you their next meal, leaving you itchy for days.

Remove Standing Water

First thing first, always make sure your outdoor living area is free of any pools of stagnant water as these are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Anywhere rainwater can collect, including garbage cans, empty plant pots or other water-holding containers, and clogged gutters, needs to be promptly drained and cleaned before mosquitoes have a chance to lay eggs in the water.

• Change the water in bird baths and water dishes for outdoor pets a few times a week. Or consider getting a fountain for your bird bath or pet water dishes, mosquitoes only lay eggs in stagnant water.
• Empty kiddie pools, clean them and turn them over to fully drain out when they aren’t in use.
• Be sure swimming pools and hot tubs are properly chlorinated and debris-free.
• Pool and hot tub covers are another place water can collect. Be sure to always promptly clean off any water that accumulates during a rainstorm.
• Be careful not to over-water your lawn to prevent water puddles that could attract mosquitoes.
• Maintain your landscaping with regular pruning of trees and bushes along with mowing your lawn.
• Trash cans need to have tight-fitting lids and consider drilling drainage holes if needed.
• Regularly clean your gutters and downspouts to prevent clogging that could lead to a mosquito infestation.
• Mesh screens in water tanks or water barrels are another way to keep mosquitoes from taking up residence on your property.
• Use a mosquito dunk in bird baths, fish ponds, or anywhere you have stagnant water. These dunks kill mosquito larvae before they’re old enough to bite but are non-toxic to all other wildlife. Read more about this topic on our article: “What are Mosquito Dunks and How to Use Them.”

Pro Tip: Become an expert at preventing mosquitoes by reading our guide: “How to Get Rid of Standing Water in Your Yard.”

Install Fans in Your Outdoor Area

Use fans to circulate air, as this confuses mosquitoes and makes it harder for them to fly. Mosquitoes fly about 1 to 1.5 mph, so even a light wind will make it harder for them to land on you. 

Fans will also cool you down, dry up sweat, and disperse the carbon dioxide you exhale. Since mosquitoes are attracted to sweat and carbon dioxide, having your fan outside reduces the likelihood they’ll be able to find you.

Pro Tip: Don’t rely on citronella candles to repel mosquitoes outdoors. According to a 2017 study, citronella candles have little to no effect on repelling mosquitoes. 

Landscape Your Yard

Bring on the sunshine! Mosquitoes are drawn to damp, dark, and cool places. Keeping up with proper landscaping practices such as pruning trees, trimming shrubs, and taking care of your lawn will help bring sun to your outdoor area, limiting dark, damp, and cool areas for mosquitoes to breed.

What better way to naturally repel mosquitoes than by using plants that repel mosquitoes? Use these plants to help keep the pesky bloodsuckers from even entering your garden. Consider planting these along walkways, patios, decks, or any outdoor area you use as a hang-out spot.

Plants to repel mosquitoes

• Lemongrass
• Citronella grass
• Lemon thyme
• Peppermint
• Rosemary
• Basil
• Lavender

Use cedar mulch as a way to naturally ward off mosquitoes. Organic mulch is always a good thing to add to landscaping for many reasons, including soaking up excess water and bringing vital nutrients to your soil. 

Attract Natural Predators

There are a number of predators in the wild that naturally prey on mosquitoes. Birds, bats, and some fish will happily help you control the mosquito population. Stock your pond with koi and goldfish. Even bring in a red-eared slider turtle to help keep the mosquitoes to a minimum.

If you don’t mind bats, install bat houses throughout your property. Bats are great for controlling the insect population because they will eat mosquitoes along with other insects. 

Install bird feeders in your garden to attract birds to your yard. There are a few varieties that will naturally help with the mosquitoes. 

Birds that prey on mosquitoes:

• Migratory songbirds
• Sparrows
• Swallows

Clean Your Gutters 

Gutters clogged with leaves, twigs, and other muck can cause all kinds of problems beyond just roof or other homeowner issues. They can have pools of standing water just hanging out begging for a mosquito infestation. 

If you have a lot of mosquitoes hanging around your roof then check your gutters for any standing water and make sure they are clean and properly installed.

Clean and inspect your gutters twice a year to ensure they are free of any debris. If you have a lot of trees close to your home, consider installing gutter guards to help prevent clogs.

Use Insecticides

If you’ve done your due diligence but are still swatting at mosquitoes, you may want to use insecticides to kill adult mosquitoes in your yard. You can hire one of the best mosquito control companies to apply the chemicals, or DIY it and apply the insecticide yourself. These DIY treatments will typically help control the mosquito population for about four to 12 weeks.

However, don’t just go buy a treatment then come home and immediately apply the insecticide. There are a few things you need to do before you apply the repellent.

1. Eliminate all standing water as we have previously discussed. Be sure to check anywhere water can collect, including empty flower pots, gutters, pools of water in potholes, or on pool and hot tub covers.
2. Use a mosquito dunk to kill any potential larvae lurking in bird baths or fish ponds. Insecticide only kills adult mosquitoes so if you neglect this step, you will have just wasted your efforts once the larvae mature.

Once you have completed those two steps, read the label carefully and closely follow the instructions.

Pro Tip: Many mosquito control companies also offer natural treatment options. If you DIY, some of the best mosquito yard sprays are also chemical-free.

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes Inside the House in Chicago

Protecting your yard and home’s perimeter is definitely your first defense against mosquitoes, but sometimes those pesky little guys are determined and still make it into your home. Luckily, there are also numerous ways to help keep them out of your home.

Seal Windows and Doors

Your first line of defense is making sure there’s no way for mosquitoes to get into your house. 

• Check all screens on windows and doors for holes or gaps where mosquitoes can squeeze through.
• Tightly close any windows and doors without screens.
• Replace caulking with cracks or holes.
• Purchase weather stripping to block the space around doors and windows.

Use Fans and Air Conditioning

Just like an outdoor fan, using a fan indoors will also help eliminate any potential mosquito problems. All the same principles apply inside as they do out, the wind will still be too great for them to fly through.

Air conditioning is also a major turn-off for any mosquitoes trying to invade your house. They love a warm, moist habitat. Keeping your AC on will not only keep the air cooler and more comfortable for you, but it will also naturally eliminate humidity throughout your home making it far less appealing to mosquitoes. 

Eliminate Places for Mosquitoes to Live

There are lots of places throughout your house where mosquitoes can call home. Just because it’s indoors does not mean mosquitoes won’t lay their eggs somewhere they find stagnant water. Be sure to keep these areas clean and clear of standing water. 

Places mosquitoes hide in

• Vases
• Flowerpots
• Pet water dishes
• Under sinks
• Showers
• Closets
• Under furniture
• Laundry room
• Basement

Make Homemade Mosquito Sprays and Traps

While these DIY methods aren’t the best or most effective ways to get rid of mosquitoes, these are things you likely already have on hand. They’re also very budget-friendly options.

Sliced Lemon and Cloves

One surefire way to keep the mosquitoes at bay is with citrus and cloves as they hate the smell of both. Slice a lemon in half and push cloves into the halves. Place the clove-infused lemons on plates and set them out in your kitchen for a natural and harmless way to repel mosquitoes.

Garlic Spray

Garlic is good for more than just keeping vampires away; it’ll also help keep the mosquitoes away. If you don’t mind your home temporarily smelling of garlic, it is a great chemical-free solution for a mosquito-free home. 

Simply crush or mince a few cloves and boil the garlic in water. Once it has cooled, pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray it around your home.

A Dish of Soapy Water

A great way to trick a mosquito is with soapy water. They are attracted to the water, but once they sit on the dish of soapy water, they will get trapped in the bubbles and die. Use a wide dish and add water and soap to it, making sure the dish is fully covered in bubbles. Either dishwashing soap or detergent can be used.

Use Essential Oils and Candles

Essential oils are a great option for anyone looking for a natural, homemade way to help keep the mosquitoes from taking up residence inside your home. These oils are made from a plant’s flowers, seeds, bark, roots, leaves, resin, or wood. Candles made from essential oils are also just as effective.

Essential oils that repel mosquitoes:

• Basil
• Catnip 
• Cedarwood
• Citronella grass
• Geranium
• Lavender
• Marigold
• Lemon balm
• Lemongrass
• Peppermint
• Rosemary

If you are a plant person, you can keep some of these plants around your home. However, the essential oils derived from these plants are much more powerful than the plants themselves.

Spray Indoor Insecticide

If all else fails, consider using an indoor insect spray or a mosquito fogger to protect your home from invading mosquitoes. These products work immediately but only for a certain amount of time. Read the label to know when you will need to reapply. 

Depending on the product you purchase, you may have to turn the AC off and leave the house for a set period of time, usually a few hours. Read the label’s warnings and carefully follow the directions listed. If you have pets, pay particular attention to any instructions on how it could impact your furry family members, and look for products that specifically say they are safe for pets.

When is Mosquito Season in Chicago?

Mosquito season here in Chicago starts in the spring and peaks during the summer before fading in the fall. The Chicago mosquito season typically runs from May through September.

Mosquito eggs start to hatch when temperatures consistently reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Once this happens, you will want to keep your guard up the rest of the season. Adults are a bit sluggish but will be somewhat active when temperatures are 50 to 60 F; however, mosquitoes are most active when temperatures reach 80 F.

In the fall, female mosquitoes will die or look for places to hibernate. When temperatures fall below 50 F, they will go into dormancy for winter, where they will remain in a “suspended development” stage until temperatures rise above 50 F in the spring.

Mosquito Control Resources in Chicago

There are numerous resources for mosquito information that of course include the CDC as well as other resources more specific to the Chicago metro area and our state.

Chicago Department of Public Health

Chicago’s city government has numerous resources available for residents on their website, including notices of community mosquito control sprayings. The Chicago Department of Public Health sends out a team each year to survey the city to determine where the city needs to spray for mosquitoes. 

The Chicago Department of Public Health conducts these studies and sprays to control the mosquito population to prevent an outbreak of West Nile virus, Zika, dengue, chikungunya, or other diseases often carried and spread by mosquitoes.

Illinois Department of Public Health

Much like our city public health department, the state public health department also has numerous resources available to residents. 

The Illinois Department of Public Health works with our local department to survey, monitor, and control the mosquito population throughout our state. The state developed a mosquito surveillance program as a result of the heavy West Nile virus activity in Illinois beginning in 2002.

University of Illinois Cooperative Extension

The University of Illinois Cooperative Extension has all kinds of resources, research, and stories highlighting the dangers of mosquitoes and the diseases they may carry. 

Check out the website’s insect section, where you will find anything you can imagine about insects with many articles focused on mosquitoes. 

How Much Does Mosquito Control Cost?

Mosquito control costs can vary greatly depending on numerous factors. Whether you choose to do the mosquito control yourself or hire a professional company, the main things that will likely drive the cost are the size of your property and infestation.

DIY Mosquito Control

DIY of course will naturally be your most economical option. Depending on the specific DIY option you choose, these treatments and solutions will typically cost $8 to $440. The average cost for a DIY mosquito spray or fogger is about $25, depending on the size you purchase and the area it covers. 

You can also construct a simple DIY mosquito trap out of supplies you probably already have, costing you nothing.

Professional Mosquito Control

If you choose to go the professional route, mosquito control costs range from $350 to $550 with the national average at $450. On the extreme low end, if you purchase the bare minimum for a small property, you may spend only about $80. While on the extreme high end, a seasonal package that includes all the extras for a large property could run you about $1,600.

FAQ About Mosquitoes in Chicago

What Kinds of Mosquitoes are Common in Illinois?

There are more than 200 types of mosquitoes that call our country home. But there are only two kinds of mosquitoes that plague our state. Some mosquitoes carry diseases while others do not.

Floodwater mosquitoes are vicious biters and often venture out into the world, traveling 10 or more miles from where they hatch. The good news about these common mosquitoes is they haven’t been a significant disease carrier in our state.

Vector mosquitoes typically stay close to home, not migrating long distances. They lay their eggs in stagnant ditches, ponds, old tires, clogged gutters, or anything that holds water. Vector mosquitoes carry diseases. Among these mosquito species are the tree-hole mosquito, the Asian tiger mosquito, and the Culex mosquito, also known as the house mosquito.

Do All Mosquitoes Carry Diseases?

No, not all mosquitoes are disease carriers. Some mosquitoes carry diseases while others do not. Even mosquitoes that do carry diseases don’t carry all types of one specific disease. For instance, a mosquito carrying encephalitis doesn’t carry all types of the virus. 

The most common human illness carried by mosquitoes in Illinois is encephalitis. This disease causes brain inflammation and can range from mild to severe. Symptoms include severe headaches, high fever, and mental disturbances such as confusion, irritability, tremors, stupor, and coma. Severe cases can result in permanent physical or mental disabilities or even death. 

When was West Nile Virus First Detected in Illinois?

Laboratory tests first confirmed West Nile virus in two dead crows found in the Chicago area in September 2001. The first human cases and deaths were reported the following year. Also in 2002, all but two of the state’s 102 counties reported a West Nile-positive human, bird, mosquito, or horse.

By the end of 2002, Illinois had recorded 884 human cases and 66 deaths, more than any other state in the nation. Luckily, the number fell in 2003 to 54 human cases and only one death, and the virus was active in only 77 counties.

Tired of Itching?

If you are itching to get the mosquito population on your Chicago property under control, let Pest Gnome connect you with a local mosquito professional. Local pros get rid of those little buggers so you can get back to enjoying your outdoor area itch free!

Main Image Credit: Leonid Andronov / Adobe Stock Free / License