How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes

There is no single fix for mosquitoes. Several species can be biting in the same yard, each with its own habits, and new adults keep flying in from nearby properties, so lasting relief comes from combining steps. Start with the water. Turn over, empty or throw out anything outdoors that collects rain, from buckets and old tires to kiddie pools, and remember that a bottle cap of water is enough for some species. Then make the yard a poor place for adults to rest by thinning overgrown shrubs and keeping grass cut. If you are still getting bitten after all that, Florida Bug Control can inspect the property and set up a mosquito treatment plan.

A Weekly Routine That Cuts Down Mosquitoes

In Florida’s summer heat, mosquitoes can go from egg to biting adult in about a week, so the most effective habit is a weekly walk around the yard. The Florida Department of Health sums it up as “drain and cover.”

• Drain: tip out anything holding water at least once a week, including saucers, toys, tarps and buckets. Scrub the sides of birdbaths and pet bowls, since some species glue their eggs just above the waterline.
• Flush bromeliads: hose out the center of each plant weekly.
• Fix hidden spots: clean gutters, fill tree holes, keep pools circulating, and drill drain holes in tire swings and recycling bins.
• Cover: screen rain barrels, and treat water you can’t empty with a mosquito larvicide, following the label.
• Protect yourself: repair window screens, run a fan on the porch since mosquitoes are weak fliers, and use an EPA-registered repellent outdoors.

Mistakes that waste effort: bug zappers, which kill few mosquitoes and many harmless insects; citronella candles, which give little protection; and spraying the yard while leaving containers full of larvae.

A professional mosquito service starts with an inspection to find breeding sites and resting areas, then removes or treats standing water and targets the shaded plants where adults spend the day. Visits repeat through the rainy season because new mosquitoes keep arriving. Many Florida counties also run mosquito control programs that handle area-wide problems such as marsh mosquitoes. Learn how to read the signs on the mosquito infestation page.