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.

Featured Publication:

Do-It-Yourself Backyard Mosquito Control (pdf)

Learn More:

Ask an Extension expert your question about Mosquito Control or other topics.