Every year, once spring starts to settle in, we brace ourselves for the oncoming onslaught of mosquitoes. So, what do many people do to address this situation? Well, they contact their local mosquito-spraying company to fog their yard to kill the mosquitoes.

Most people don’t stop to think about the overall impact of such an activity on wildlife. We presently are witnessing and causing a major decline in our pollinators as part of the ongoing insect apocalypse, which is also a major contributor to the massive decline of many bird species.

We must recognize how destructive mosquito fogging is.

It’s a booming business around the country. The mosquito foggers say it’s OK because what they’re fogging with is an organic product. It’s a natural product, and they’re correct. It’s pyrethroids, such as permethrin: synthetic compounds which mimic the pyrethrin compounds which are made naturally by chrysanthemums to ward off insects. But cyanide is a natural product, an organic product; ricin is a natural organic product; nicotine is a natural organic product, so being natural and organic does not make it nontoxic. These fogging chemicals are designed to be effective on contact but generally degrade quickly, requiring repeat applications.

Mosquito foggers also say it only kills mosquitoes, and we wish they were right about that. But in fact it kills everything, all of the insects that it comes in contact with, including all of the pollinators that we are trying to save (bees, moths, butterflies, etc.) including our beleaguered monarch, which are now red-listed. We’ve lost well over 90% of our monarchs; they are on the brink of extinction.

The ironic thing about mosquito fogging is that it does not control mosquitoes.

You cannot control mosquitoes in the adult stage. You must kill 90% to get good control. Mosquito foggers kill between 10% and 50%, according to Doug Tallamy, entomologist, conservationist, and professor at the University of Delaware, so they are not even close to getting good control. It also means that they need to keep coming back to try to kill more mosquitoes and, unfortunately, kill more pollinators, if any are still around.

“If you really want to kill mosquitoes, you do it in the larval stage and homeowners can help in this regard,” Tallamy said. “Get a bucket, fill it with water, put in a handful of straw or hay, and put it out in the sun for a few days so that it can build up a population of diatoms and algae, which is what mosquito larvae eat.

“The bucket becomes an irresistible brew for female mosquitos, which will preferentially lay eggs in the bucket. Then go to a hardware store and get a sheet of mosquito dunks; that’s $12 for a season’s worth of control.

“Mosquito dunk is bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI), a natural bacterium that only kills aquatic Diptera, and the only aquatic Diptera in your bucket is the mosquito larva,” Tallamy explained. “BTI is safe for humans, pets, and other wildlife. You can even place them in your bird baths. It’s targeted, it’s cheap, and if everybody did it, it would be effective as well.”

So, what if your mosquito company tells you that they don’t use pyrethroids as their fogging agent but instead use either citronella oil or other citrus oil? Citronella is a type of aromatic grass belonging to the Cymbopogon genus. Citronella does not kill mosquitoes, or other insects, nor do other citrus oils, they just briefly repel those that it contacts by disrupting their sensory receptors to detect carbon dioxide, heat, and other chemical signals that lead them to their hosts.

In addition to using mosquito dunks, there are other non-chemical alternatives to deal with mosquitoes.

Plants such as bee balm, lavender, alliums, perennial geraniums, ageratum, marigolds, and flowering catmint can be used, and planting garlic or chives in the vegetable garden can also help. The best container herbs that help repel mosquitoes include peppermint, thyme, nasturtiums, lemon balm, rosemary, basil, and lemongrass.

Plant citronella and/or use citronella products in your backyard, such as outdoor candles, citronella lamp oil for torches, insect-repellent sprays, and incense coils.

Use essential oil sprays, including citronella, geranium, sweet basil, lemongrass, cedarwood, lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus. Try to use at least three different ones.

Remove standing water: regularly check for puddles, clogged gutters, and bird baths that hold water. Turn over items like buckets, plant saucers, and wheelbarrows to prevent water accumulation. Use outdoor fans: Strong fans on patios and decks disrupt mosquito flight patterns, making it harder for them to land. Use protective barriers: Install screens on windows and doors and use mosquito nets around beds or outdoor seating areas. Use outdoor curtains or mesh to define living spaces and keep mosquitoes at bay during gatherings.

The bottom line: let’s think more about the overall negative impact that fogging for mosquitoes has on our pollinators, insects in general, and birds, as well as the alternatives that can be used to more effectively eliminate them and repel them before hiring a mosquito company this year.

David Brunetti, a resident of Harrisville, R.I., recently retired after 40 years as a chemist in the specialty chemicals and pharmaceutical API manufacturing industries. He is an activist for biodiversity, wildlife, animal welfare, and climate.