Mosquito eggs

Most mosquitoes lay their eggs in water, and they don’t need much. A Frisbee or a plastic bottle cap can hold enough water to support mosquito breeding.

• Find and remove any puddles of water or standing water around your home to reduce breeding sites.
• Puncture unusable tires in the yard to prevent pools of water from forming inside them.
• Wipe out your bird-bath every few days. The eggs can get stuck to the bottom and survive dry periods.
• Maintain your swimming pool to prevent mosquito breeding, and report abandoned pools to your local health department.

Mosquito larvae

• Consider adding mosquito fish to your water garden or small pond if it's not connected to natural waters.
• If you have rainwater barrel, a rainwater harvesting system, consider methods to kill mosquito larvae, such as implementing a management program.
• Keep in mind that there are biological and chemical options to control mosquito larvae.

Adult mosquitoes

• Keep grass and shrubs trimmed short; this will reduce places for flying (adult) mosquitoes to rest.
• Keep windows and door screens in good working order.
• Use mosquito netting over infant carriers when outdoors, especially at dusk.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants while outdoors, and consider staying indoors early in the morning and evening when mosquitoes are most active.
• Consider using pesticide-treated clothing. Make sure to select products with specific instructions for treating clothing.
• Consider using an insect repellent. NPIC's Insect Repellent Locator can be useful when deciding on insect repellents.
• Be aware of public health mosquito control programs, they may use insecticides to kill adult mosquitoes. Your local government may lead these efforts.