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Mosquito Control at Home and in the Yard

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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