Setting a Trap to Remove Mosquitos

5 Easy Steps

If your backyard turns into a mosquito buffet every summer, here’s a mosquito control trick that actually works before the bugs even get a chance to hatch. Mosquitoes love standing water, so instead of constantly battling them with bug sprays, citronella candles, and mosquito repellent, I use this DIY mosquito trap to lure them in… and then shut it down. It’s an easy and effective way to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard and keep your outdoor space bug-free all season long.

Here’s how to make a DIY mosquito dunks trap with things you probably already have in your home:

What You’ll Need:

• Bucket or plastic container
  
• Some water (the grosser, the better—old plants water, base of your grill, hose runoff)
  
• Mosquito Dunks
  
• Window Screen Mesh
  
• Scissors or a knife to punch holes
  
• A rubber band, string, or duct tape
  

1. (Optional) Paint the bucket.

If you want your mosquito trap to blend into your yard, patio, or garden, give the bucket a quick coat of outdoor spray paint. Neutral tones like green, black, or brown work great to help it disappear into your landscape design. It’s totally optional, but it keeps your DIY mosquito control setup from looking like you left yard work or clean-up day half-finished in the backyard.

2. Fill the bucket with swampy water.

You can leave out a bucket of water for a couple days with some grass clippings, leaves, or even a bit of dirt in it. Stagnant water full of organic debris is what attracts mosquitoes; it’s their ideal breeding ground. That gross, gunky mix is where mosquitoes lay eggs, so it makes the perfect DIY mosquito bait trap to lure them in before using mosquito dunks or other larvicide treatments.

3. Drop in a Mosquito Dunk.

These mosquito dunks kill mosquito larvae before they hatch, helping you stop an infestation before it starts. They’re a safe and effective option for eco-friendly mosquito control—they won’t harm pets, birds, butterflies, or other beneficial wildlife. One dunk lasts about 30 days and treats up to 100 square feet of standing water, making it perfect for backyard mosquito prevention. You can also break the dunk into smaller pieces for use in small mosquito traps, birdbaths, rain barrels, or garden ponds.

4. Cover the top with a piece of window screen.

Cut a piece of window screen mesh or insect screen large enough to cover the top of your 5-gallon mosquito trap bucket. Then—and this part’s important—poke or slice a few holes in the screen cover so mosquitoes can get in, but larger animals like birds, squirrels, or curious pets stay out. This simple step helps you build a safe DIY mosquito trap that’s both effective and wildlife-friendly, while keeping your yard or garden mosquito-free.

5. Secure the screen.

Use whatever you’ve got—duct tape, garden twine, or even a big rubber band—to secure the screen cover tightly over the top of your mosquito trap bucket. You want it snug so it doesn’t blow off in the wind or get knocked loose by wildlife, pets, or bad weather. A tight fit ensures your DIY backyard mosquito trap stays effective and keeps the standing water mosquito bait protected.

Why It Works:

You’re giving mosquitoes the perfect place to lay eggs—but thanks to the mosquito dunks, the larvae never survives. It’s like setting a mosquito bait trap with all the attraction and none of the bugs.

I usually tuck these DIY mosquito traps in shady corners of the yard, near the garden, or anywhere standing water collects. You can also drop dunk pieces directly into birdbaths, plant saucers, clogged gutters, flower pot trays, and rain puddles—basically any spot that becomes a mosquito breeding site.

Want to see how I set mine up? Watch this reel to see the step-by-step in action.

Fewer bugs, zero chemicals, and no more itchy ankles. You’re welcome.