Mosquitoes breed in small bodies of water. A wide variety of aquatic habitats are suitable for mosquito breeding from wetlands and ponds to artificial containers such as gutters, discarded cans, flower pots, unmaintained swimming pools, tire casings, catch basins and many others. Mosquitoes may also breed in commonly used containers such as pet water bowls and bird baths. Any object or structure where stagnant water can collect is potentially a mosquito breeding habitat.
How can you keep mosquitoes from breeding on your property?
- Dispose of unused containers. If you want to save the containers, store them under a roof or cover them tightly.
- Frequently change the water in animal drinking bowls and bird baths.
- Dump extra water from flower pots.
- Pick up kids toys such as swimming pools and buckets where stagnant water can collect.
- Make sure that gutters drain properly.
- Cisterns and water storage containers should be kept clean and sealed so mosquitoes cannot lay eggs in them.
- Empty tarps and boats of water and empty saucers under plants, or fill the saucers with sand.
Be sure to refresh pet bowls with clean water.
Refresh birdbaths that can easily be forgotten and provide mosquito breeding habitat.
Clogged gutters are great places for mosquitoes to breed -- don't forget them.
Make it a family event --look for anything that can catch and hold sprinkler or rain water in your backyard.
Common containers in which eggs develop into adult mosquitoes
Containers that are filled with rain water
Empty and properly discard large water containers such as tires and unused toilets and small containers like paint cans.
Cover your trash cans and dump water from containers and toys.
Containers that are filled with water by people and also collect rain water
Water-storage containers (wells, tanks, cisterns, barrels, jars, buckets).
Ornamental or recreational containers (plant pots and dishes, plastic pools, rooting plants in water/ aquatic plants)
