Mosquitoes are a natural part of the world that have been around for millions of years. The pests have caused the spread of malaria, West Nile virus, and much concern. Malaria has quadrupled worldwide, and the spread of the West Nile virus have left millions of Americans afraid of mosquitoes and their bites. Fortunately, many of the mosquitoes found in households don’t carry infectious diseases.  Mosquitoes are common pests, but there are ways of controlling them, and the most important part of mosquito control is getting rid of the mosquito’s breeding ground.

If mosquitoes are sited around a home, the chances are the homeowners are their neighbors are providing the necessary habitats for them to breed. Eliminating a breeding habitat will eliminate the possibility of a mosquito infestation. Destroying where female adults lay eggs, or cleaning potential breeding areas periodically will disrupt the life cycle of the mosquito.

Mosquitoes must have water to breed, primarily still or stagnant water that is rich in organic matter for mosquito larvae to feed on. Mosquito larvae must survive in still water for five days in order to develop and form before they transform into adults. Larvae cannot transmit any diseases, but adult mosquitoes are capable of transmitting diseases to humans.

Removing areas with standing water can reduce the number of mosquitoes. One container of still water can lead to hundreds of mosquitoes in a yard. Flower pots, gardening cans, wheelbarrows, and puddles are breeding grounds, and they must be emptied or stored upside down in the yard. Homeowners can also treat the standing water with insecticides to kill any mosquitoes that may want to breed there, but treatments must be repeated, and if treatment stops, the water must be removed. Chemical control may help, but it is expensive and not as effective as control of breeding sites. 

There are many things that may hold standing water around the home, including tire swings, bird baths swimming pools, and gutters. Tire swings should also be emptied when water collects there, and replaced with other types if possible. Garbage cans are also breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects, so it is essential to keep them covered. Recycling or composting containers, to prevent water accumulation will also help eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds. If a bird bath or outdoor pet dishes are used, the water should be replaced on a weekly basis to prevent stagnant water.

For ornamental ponds, owners should aerate, filter, or add fish to them to help eliminate any mosquitoes that may try to breed there. Some homeowners also have yards with natural depressions that form ponds or bogs during rain weather. These areas must be corrected using grading, or by creating a natural garden area, where plants can convert it to flowers and foliage. Covers on swimming pools may become filled with rain water that provide perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Swimming pools should be aerated, cleaned, and aerated even if they are not being used, and any water collected on the cover should be dumped.

A pump can also be used to help drain water from pool covers. Wading pools can also welcome mosquito-breeding activity. The pools should be emptied after use and stored on their side or deflated, and should never be turned upside down, because this will only provide a catch basin for rainwater. If water is left in the wading pool, it should be changed each week. Rain gutters are also common problems; gutter and down spouts should be maintained, and no water should be left on flat roofs after it rains, and blockages should be removed to allow water to drain freely. Rain barrels should be emptied if they are more than a week old. Dripping faucets should be repaired from outdoor water pipes, joints, or hoses, and washers should be replaced on outdoor taps that drip to prevent puddles from developing. 

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