How do I stop mosquitoes from breeding around my house?

Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so stopping them is a matter of finding that water and keeping it from coming back. It is not a one-time job. A short weekly round from spring to fall, plus a few permanent fixes, keeps most of the breeding off your property.

The weekly round

The schedule is set by the mosquito. Mosquitoes live in standing water for at least a week before they start flying.^[3] Empty a container once a week and nothing in it gets that far.

Dumping is only half of it. The eggs can survive dry conditions for a few months and hatch when water returns.^[4] Do both every week. Dump water that collects in containers at least every week, and wash containers out at least each week before refilling them with clean water.^[1] Put away anything you are not using. Cover or store boats and buckets upside down so water cannot collect in them.^[1]

Bird baths need more attention. Wipe out the bird bath every few days, because the eggs can get stuck to the bottom and survive dry periods.^[7]

On each round, check the usual places: roof gutters, downspout extensions, artificial containers, old tires, bird baths, ornamental ponds, tarps on woodpiles and drainage ditches.^[3] Add your own yard's regulars, such as plant saucers, a pet's outdoor bowl, toys, a grill cover or a recycling bin.

Fix the things that keep refilling

Some sources come back after every rain no matter how often you dump them. Fix those once:

• Tires. Throw out tires you do not need. Puncture unusable tires in the yard so pools of water cannot form inside them.^[7]
• Gutters and downspouts. A gutter that sags or is packed with leaves holds stagnant water between storms. Keep it clear, and make sure downspout extensions drain rather than sit full. See why gutters overflow and how often to clean them.
• Low spots. If areas of your yard do not drain properly, fill them in so they do not hold water.^[3] A wet area that is more than a low spot is a drainage question; see who to call for a wet yard.
• Tarps and covers. Pull tarps tight or prop them so rain runs off rather than pooling in the folds.
• Containers with no purpose. Old buckets, cans and broken pots are easier to recycle than to empty every week.

Water you want to keep

If you have standing water you cannot get rid of that lasts for more than a week, consider treating it with a larvicide.^[3] For homeowners that usually means Bti, sold as dunks or granules. Bti is a naturally occurring bacterium found in soils, and its toxins affect only the larvae of mosquitoes, black flies and fungus gnats.^[6] EPA says Bti has no toxicity to people, and studies indicate it has minimal toxicity to honey bees.^[6] Follow the label, and check it before treating a barrel or cistern used for drinking water: Some Bti products are allowed on certain drinking water, such as cisterns, and others are not.^[6]

Rain barrels. A tight lid, or fine screen over every opening, keeps females from laying eggs on the water. Add a dunk in the warm months.

Garden ponds. Consider adding mosquito fish to a water garden or small pond if it is not connected to natural waters.^[7] Keep the size of the water in mind. Open bodies of water, such as large ponds and streams, are not mosquito-breeding areas and should not be treated, but small backyard ponds should be checked for mosquito larvae.^[8]

Pools. Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating.^[5] A winter cover that collects rain needs that water pumped off.

Fewer places to rest

Breeding happens in water, but adults spend the day in shade. Keep grass and shrubs trimmed short to reduce places for adult mosquitoes to rest.^[7] That will not stop breeding, but it makes the yard less comfortable for the mosquitoes that hatch next door.

Timing through the year

In Virginia, mosquito season runs from early May to early November.^[2] Do a spring clean-up in April: clear gutters, throw out what collected water over the winter, set up rain barrel lids, and fill low spots. Keep the weekly round going through the summer and into the fall, and stop when the season ends.

Work with your neighbors

Breeding water on the next lot reaches your yard too. Residents, neighbors and landlords can all help by eliminating standing water or alerting others to it.^[5] A friendly word about a tarp or a kiddie pool usually solves it. For anything bigger, bring in local government. Report abandoned pools to your local health department.^[7]

Stop and call a pro if

• Gutters that keep holding water are on a second storey or a steep roofline. Hire a gutter cleaner or repair company rather than working from a tall ladder.
• Part of the yard stays wet for days after every rain. A drainage contractor or landscaper can regrade or add drainage.
• Mosquitoes stay heavy after several weeks of steady weekly rounds. A licensed pest control company can inspect for sources you have missed; read whether monthly mosquito treatments are worth it first.

For quick fixes right now, see how to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard, and for the causes, why there are so many mosquitoes in your yard. Browse mosquito control services, find pest control around Blacksburg, or read more pest control answers.

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