Mosquito Control at Home

Control mosquitoes outside your home

Remove standing water where mosquitoes lay eggs

• Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out any items that hold water like tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, or trash containers. Mosquitoes lay eggs near water.
• Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets, cisterns, rain barrels) so mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs.
• For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
• Fill tree holes to prevent them from filling with water.
• Repair cracks or gaps in your septic tank if you have one. Cover open vent or plumbing pipes. Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.

Kill mosquito larvae outside your home

• Use larvicides to treat large bodies of water that will not be used for drinking and cannot be covered or dumped out.
• When using larvicides, always follow label instructions.

Kill mosquitoes outside your home

• Use an outdoor adulticide to kill adult mosquitoes in areas where they rest.
• Mosquitoes rest in dark, humid areas like under patio furniture or under the carport or garage.
• When using adulticides, always follow label instructions.

Control mosquitoes inside your home

Keep mosquitoes out

To keep mosquitoes outside of your home, you can:

• Install or repair and use window and door screens.
• Close doors, including garage doors. Do not leave doors propped open.
• Use air conditioning when possible.

Control mosquitoes inside your home

Mosquitoes rest in dark, humid places like under sinks, in showers, in closets, under furniture, or in the laundry room. Mosquitoes entering your house from outdoors can start laying eggs indoors. Take the following steps:

• Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out any items that hold water, such as vases or flowerpot saucers, to remove mosquito eggs and larvae.
• Use an indoor insecticide if you still have mosquitoes in your home after installing and repairing screens and emptying and scrubbing containers.
• Hire a pest control professional to treat areas inside your home.

About indoor insect spray or fogger

An indoor insect spray or fogger will kill mosquitoes and treat areas where they rest.

• These products work quickly but may need to be reapplied.
• Always follow label directions.
• Using only an indoor insecticide will not keep your home free of mosquitoes.

Fact sheets

• Get Rid of Mosquitoes at Home
• What You Need to Know About Larvicides
• What You Need to Know About Bti (a larvicide)
• What You Need to Know About Adulticides
• What You Need to Know About Outdoor Spraying
• What You Need to Know About Indoor Spraying