Mosquitoes can quickly turn a fun summer evening in your backyard into an annoying nuisance. Their relentless biting can drive you and your family indoors. Fortunately, there's an easy, non-toxic way to control mosquitoes in your yard - using mosquito dunks.

In this blog post, you’ll learn what mosquito dunks are, when and how to apply them, and tips for getting the most out of these convenient mosquito killers. With the help of mosquito dunks, you can ditch the bug spray and enjoy mosquito-free backyard living all season long.

What Are Mosquito Dunks?

Mosquito dunks are small, donut-shaped tablets containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), a natural bacterium lethal to mosquito larvae but harmless to people, pets, and plants.

The active ingredient in mosquito dunks is released slowly as the dunk dissolves, providing 30 days of continuous mosquito control. By dropping mosquito dunks in standing water breeding sites around your yard, you can kill mosquito larvae before they have a chance to develop into nuisance biting adults.

When to Apply Mosquito Dunks

Timing is important when using mosquito dunks. They are designed to eliminate mosquitoes during the larval stage. Mosquito dunks will not kill full grown adult mosquitoes.

For best results, apply mosquito dunks to any standing water as soon as the weather begins to warm in early spring. This helps eliminate the first batch of mosquito larvae before they mature into biting adults.

Mosquito dunks work by releasing bacteria over a 30-day period. So you’ll need to reapply monthly throughout mosquito season. With regular re-applications to standing water, you’ll keep knocking out successive generations of larvae.

Where to Use Mosquito Dunks

Check your yard for any areas of standing water. This can include:

• Ponds
• Drainage ditches
• Low spots that collect rainwater
• Storm drains and catch basins
• Flower pot saucers
• Rain barrels
• Pet water bowls
• Bird baths
• Boat tarps
• Old tires
• Clogged rain gutters

Anywhere that holds stagnant water for more than a few days is a potential mosquito breeding area. Place one mosquito dunk for every 50 square feet of surface water. Crush larger tablets if needed to cover more space.

How to Apply Mosquito Dunks

Applying mosquito dunks takes just a few easy steps:

1. Locate areas of standing water around your property. Pay special attention to shaded areas where mosquitoes like to lay eggs.

2. Remove any debris like leaves or trash from the water's surface. This allows the mosquito dunk to work effectively.

3. Place the pre-formed tablets or break larger dunks into pieces if needed to provide adequate coverage. Dunks will sink to the bottom and slowly release bacteria.

4. For small containers like flowerpots or bird baths, use 1/4 tablet or less. Use 1/2 tablet for rain barrels. Break larger dunks into pieces as needed.

5. Reapply new mosquito dunks every 30 days to maintain control. Monitor water sites occasionally and reapply if you notice lots of mosquito larvae again.

Pro Tip: After heavy rains or flooding, check for new standing water and drop in mosquito dunks to stay ahead of mosquito breeding.

5 Tips for Using Mosquito Dunks Effectively

Follow these tips to get the most from your mosquito dunks:

• Start early - Apply as soon as weather warms in spring to eliminate the first wave of mosquito larvae.

• Apply monthly - Reapply dunks every 30 days before new generations of mosquitoes can reach adulthood.

• Get coverage - Ensure you have enough mosquito dunks for the square footage of standing water breeding areas.

• Monitor and maintain - Check sites occasionally for signs of larvae and reapply dunks as needed if mosquitoes return.

• Combine approaches - Use mosquito dunks along with eliminating standing water, treating yards, using fans, and other tactics for comprehensive mosquito control.

Mosquito dunks provide a simple, economical DIY solution for knocking down mosquito populations in your yard at the source. Used properly and consistently, they can dramatically reduce mosquito annoyance within a few weeks.

So this summer, grab some mosquito dunk tablets and take back your yard from those annoying bloodsuckers. With mosquito dunks, you can ditch the bug spray and once again enjoy leisurely evenings outdoors with family and friends.