Thank you for the article it definitely had some good info!

You could try deliberately leaving out standing water, and putting mosquito dunks in it. Mosquito dunks have a little germ in them (I think a bacterium?) that attacks mosquito larvae, and ONLY mosquito larvae, meaning they're harmless to other insects. Same idea as predatory nematodes for beetle larvae.

Unfortunately, pesticides other than these species-specific ones are going to harm all creatures related to those pests.

This is a good idea do you think it would work with smaller containers of water around the yard? Does this do anything for existing mosquitos or it just helps to prevent them from reproducing?

The mosquito dunk doesn't affect the adults, it just helps prevent them from reproducing. I suppose smaller containers could work but I'm not sure what would happen to the bacteria if the container dried out.

I think there are traps that have varying levels of effectiveness but none of them seem guaranteed to work, and some might draw in more mosquitoes to the area. Another strategy I've heard of, although I haven't tried this, is to create a water feature and enhance habitat for dragonflies, birds, and bats, which eat mosquitos. I don't know how effective this would be in real life, but maybe worth looking into.

Putting water out to make more mosquitoes to kill before they become adults won't do anything to affect their population, unfortunately. They will still breed where ever they currently breed in addition to trying and failing in your buckets.

Hummingbirds are pretty good at hunting mosquitos--some people claim they reduce their mosquito load noticeably by putting out lots of feeders to lure them in. Even if it doesn't work, at least you get hummers.

You didn't post a photo of your yard so I'm just guessing here... limbing up your trees and pruning down your shrubbery may help.

Some years are worse than others for mosquitoes. We had a very wet summer a few years ago and they were terrible -- probably because there was no way anyone could dry out all the little wet spots they breed in.

I buy a fresh pack of "mosquito dunks" every year for rain barrels and the seasonal rain pond out back. Read the package, the protection lasts a month if I remember correctly.

In addition to what cecily said, other non-lethal measures: a fan to literally blow bugs out of your sitting area; or wear loose-fitting lightweight clothing; or bug spray (for you, not the bugs).

If you are looking to keep mosquitos away from a specific area where people are congregating, look at Thermocell. It's a repellant with a proscribed effective range. I am one of those unfortunate people who is very attractive to mosquitos and barring DEET (which I don't like to use before bed) Thermocell is the ONLY way I can sit outside without being bitten.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I do have a couple of perennial gardens with tall flowering plants so im sure that probably gives the mosquitos an ideal habitat unfortunately

Agree with the Bt trap suggestions.

Also, have lots of frogs and toads like I do. Mosquito levels are definitely lower than elsewhere I've been in suburbia. The only pest they can't seem to catch are "horse flies", not sure if mine are exactly that type, but some sort of annoying biting fly that aggressively buzzes you. I carry an electric swatter for them, once you kill a couple you will have peace for a few hours or until the next day.

make sure your gutters.. if any.. are dry .. and not clogged ...

they have to be breeding somewhere nearby.. find it .. and dry up the source ...

ken