All animals, including mosquitoes, need three things to survive – food, water and shelter. If we eliminate one of the three, mosquitoes cannot survive.
Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Home and Yard:
- Repair window and door screens
- Eliminate mosquito shelters in your yard
- Mow grass and tall weeds
- Cut back shrubs and vines
- Treat in shaded areas with a professional pest control application or DIY spray treatment
- Remove tires and junk
Dump, Drain or Change Water:
- Dump or drain water to eliminate egg laying sites.
- Change water regularly in a dog dish, bird bath or plant pot to eliminate nutrients.
- Eliminate any place where water can collect and be retained for 7-10 days, especially when there is organic matter present, such as soil or leaves.
Additional Mosquito Breeding Sites Include:
- Toys
- Swings
- Buckets and containers
- Wheelbarrows
- Bird baths
- Flower pots
- Poorly draining gutters
- Sagging tarps
- Plastic pools
- Tree holes
- Cesspool or septic tank
- Untreated and non-functioning swimming pools
- Tires
- Cisterns or rain barrels
- Low ditches or parts of the yard
- Stagnant ponds
When Water Can’t be Dumped or Drained:
- Use a larvicide for homeowners such as Mosquito DunksⓇ or the Mosquito TorpedoⓇ that are based on Bacillus thuringiensis israeliensis (Bti), a bacterium that produces proteins that are toxic for certain fly larvae.
- These products have little effect on the environment and lower impact than adulticides.
- They are also safe for non-target insects and mammals.
- They are usually effective for up to 30 days.
- The labels describe how these products should be used and how long each product lasts.
Backyard Foggers:
- Use a fogger for temporary relief from biting mosquitoes for a couple of hours or more.
- Direct toward shady areas and plants where mosquitoes rest and hide during the day.
- Thermal foggers use heat, usually from a propane flame, to create a thick white fog that can kill many resting mosquitoes.
- Aerosol foggers usually empty more quickly and are more costly than thermal foggers.
- Thermal foggers produce a highly visible smoke that can alarm neighbors.
- Both types of foggers may harm beneficial insects, such as bees, butterflies, and predator insects.
- Do not use them near plants where bees are active, and follow the label instructions carefully.
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Learn More:
- Mosquito Control at Home and in the Yard
- Mosquito Control Videos
- How to Prevent Mosquito Bites
- Mosquito Repellents
- Mosquito Control Products
- Mosquito Borne Diseases in Texas
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- About Extension Entomology
- Mosquito Control (main page)
Ask an Extension expert your question about Mosquito Control or other topics.