Warmer temperatures and recent rain will soon bring mosquitoes. Safer alternatives like the Mosquito-Be-Gone Bucket can help control them without harming pollinators.

Oklahoma City, OK – [March 11, 2025] — As warmer weather lures Oklahomans outdoors, the unwelcome buzz of mosquitoes can quickly turn backyard relaxation into an itchy ordeal. While many are tempted to hire mosquito-control companies that promise to eliminate these pests with yard spraying, Okies for Monarchs is urging residents to think twice—for the sake of pollinators, pets, and the environment.

Despite clever marketing that uses terms like “natural,” “green,” or “biodegradable,” most mosquito sprays contain pyrethroid insecticides, synthetic versions of pyrethrin, a compound derived from chrysanthemum flowers. These chemicals don’t discriminate. They kill far more than mosquitoes, including butterflies, bees, dragonflies, lightning bugs, and other beneficial insects critical to healthy ecosystems.

“The tragic loss of thousands of migrating monarch butterflies in 2020 due to insecticide exposure serves as a sobering reminder of the broader impacts of mosquito spraying,” said Katie Hawk, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Monarch Society. “Mosquito-control insecticides have been linked to declines in native pollinators, which are crucial for producing much of the world’s food supply.”

Pyrethroid insecticides, including permethrin, can contaminate bee hives, harm aquatic wildlife through runoff, and cause health issues in pets such as vomiting and lethargy.

 

A Better Way: Meet the Mosquito-Be-Gone Bucket

“Ironically, targeting adult mosquitos is the worst and by far most expensive approach to mosquito control, because mosquitos are best controlled in the larval stage. This way, you control mosquitoes, and only mosquitos, without the use of harmful insecticides.” -Dr. Tallamy, Nature’s Best Hope

To help Oklahomans combat mosquitoes without harming pollinators, Okies for Monarchs is promoting a safe, science-backed alternative: the Mosquito-Be-Gone Bucket.

This DIY solution uses Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTi), a naturally occurring soil bacterium that kills mosquito larvae—but not beneficial insects. The bucket mimics the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, lures them in, and stops them in their tracks before they become adults.

It’s inexpensive, effective, non-toxic, and easy to make. Instructions and supplies are available at okiesformonarchs.org. Let’s enjoy the outdoors—and save the bees and butterflies while we’re at it.

Order Your Mosquito-Be-Gone Bucket Kit

Join us in protecting our pollinators. Purchase your pre-made Mosquito-Be-Gone Bucket kit today—available for pre-order—and add a “Mosquito Spraying Kills Pollinators” yard sign to help spread awareness.

Pickup events are scheduled at the following locations:

  • OKC: March 29, 1pm - 4pm at Anthem Brewing Company, 908 SW 4th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73109

     
  • Tulsa: April 12, 1pm - 4pm at Heirloom Rustic Ales, 2113 E Admiral Blvd, Tulsa, OK 74110

Proceeds support conservation efforts through the Oklahoma Monarch Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Additional Safe and Effective Ways to Control Mosquitos

Before resorting to harmful sprays, residents are encouraged to adopt a variety of proven, pollinator-safe mosquito control measures:

  • Eliminate standing water in flower pots, gutters, and birdbaths.
  • Use mosquito dunks (BTi) in ponds.
  • Wear light colored protective clothing and apply insect repellent with Picaridin or eucalyptus oil.
  • Run fans to deter weak-flying mosquitoes.
  • Limit dense undergrowth where mosquitoes rest.
  • Spread cedar mulch under outdoor seating.

Oklahoma’s Vital Role

Our state is home to over 325 species of native bees, 170+ butterflies, and 1,600+ moths—and sits directly in the migratory path of the monarch butterfly. Every backyard decision has the potential to support or harm these vital pollinators.