Quick answer: Every mosquito starts in standing water. In warm weather a mosquito can go from egg to biting adult in about a week, so the most effective control is emptying or treating water sources weekly, then treating the shaded foliage where adult mosquitoes rest.
Why are mosquitoes a public health pest?
Beyond the bites, mosquitoes can carry disease. West Nile virus is found in mosquito samples on Long Island in most summers, and Eastern equine encephalitis appears in New York from time to time. Reducing mosquitoes around the home lowers exposure for the people and pets who live there.
Where do mosquitoes breed in a yard?
Almost anything that holds water for a week can produce mosquitoes. Check these first:
- Clogged gutters and downspout extensions
- Buckets, wheelbarrows, toys and plant saucers
- Tarps and pool covers that collect puddles
- Bird baths and pet bowls that are not refreshed
- Corrugated drain pipe and low spots that stay wet
- Unmaintained pools, ponds and drainage basins
The Asian tiger mosquito, a daytime biter now established on Long Island, breeds in very small containers. A bottle cap of water is enough.
How does professional mosquito treatment work?
Adult mosquitoes spend the day resting in cool, shaded, humid spots: the undersides of leaves, dense shrubs, ivy and the areas under decks. A yard treatment targets those resting sites. Where water cannot be drained, such as an ornamental pond or a basin, a larvicide can stop mosquito larvae from developing into adults.
Because new mosquitoes hatch and fly in all season, control takes repeat visits. Treatment lowers the population on your property. It will not remove every mosquito, particularly near marshes or neighboring properties with standing water.
What should I do every week?
- Walk the yard and tip out anything holding water
- Refresh bird baths and pet bowls
- Keep gutters clear
- Trim dense vegetation to let in light and air
- Check window and door screens
What about marshes and public land?
Large breeding areas such as salt marshes are handled by county vector control programs, not private contractors. A yard program deals with your property, which is where most backyard mosquitoes actually come from.
Related: Tick control on Long Island | Surface water management
This article is general information, not medical advice. Pesticides must always be applied according to the product label and New York regulations.