Control Mosquitoes With Oil

Gardening Tip of the Day

Many kinds of oil can control mosquitoes in most backyards. Vegetable oil, horticultural oil, mineral oil, or Neem oil can kill mosquito larvae in standing water according to a Rutgers University study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Vegetable oil and olive oil kills mosquito eggs and larvae quickly, especially with the addition of any liquid soap. A cosmetic surfactant called Tween 20 was used in testing and was very successful in killing mosquito larvae.

Canola oil was also found to be efficient in reducing populations of Asian tiger mosquitoes by 76 percent in Maryland neighborhoods according to another study.

Adding 1 or 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to water in a rain barrel prevents any mosquito larvae from surfacing to breathe.

For small ponds etc. just 1 tablespoon of oil is necessary. One tablespoon of oil is effective for areas up to 100 square feet.

Lastly, do not put any oils in waters where fish or wildlife live, such as ponds, pools, and birdbaths.

For more information on repelling mosquitoes read:

Soybean Oil as a Mosquito Repellent
Do Cloves Keep Mosquitoes Away
Radishes Soothe Insect Bites
Cinnamon for Insect Bites
Catnip for Bug Bites
Garlic Repellent for Mosquitoes