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Question about mosquito predators #800214

Asked July 09, 2022, 10:55 AM EDT

The Washington Post had an article on Thursday suggesting bathouses, Eastern bluebird birdhouses, and tree swallow houses as ways to try to combat mosquitoes in your yard (we have a lot of mosquitoes!). Do you have experience with any of these? We have bats in our neighborhood and sometimes in our yard. I have seen tree swallows in this general area, but not in our neighborhood. I don't think I've ever seen an Eastern bluebird in my life - not sure if they live around here? Thanks for any guidance you might have.

Montgomery County Maryland

Expert Response

See the University of Md. website links below regarding the best ways to control mosquitoes on your property.  You will see that bats are a significant asset in controlling mosquito populations.
The other birds you mention, tree swallows and the beautiful Eastern Bluebird that does live in Maryland, eat many types of bothersome insects, not only mosquitoes.  I hope this is helpful.

https://extension.umd.edu/resource/controlling-mosquitoes
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2021-03/FS791_GotBugs_GetBats.pdf
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/attracting-beneficial-tree-swallow-university-maryland-extension-fact-sheet-800
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2021-03/FS799_WMgtEBluebird.pdf

Debbie

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