Independent guides — we are not an exterminator. If someone has trouble breathing after a sting, call 911. Safety basics

Household Insects · Pest guide

Mosquitoes control

Standing water, biting days and disease risk: repellents, traps and yard control that works.

When to call a pro

Field profile

Mosquitoes at a glance

Family Culicidae

Health risk
Highof 3
Property damage
Lowof 3
Do it yourself?
DIY or proDepends on the severity
Size
1/4 to 1/2 inch (6–13 mm)
Appearance
Small dark flies with long legs; females pierce skin to feed on blood
Where found
Anywhere water stands: tires, gutters, birdbaths, buckets, planters, roof voids
When mosquitoes are active Peak: May–Aug
  1. Jan Rare
  2. Feb Rare
  3. Mar Low
  4. Apr Active
  5. May Peak
  6. Jun Peak
  7. Jul Peak
  8. Aug Peak
  9. Sep Active (this month)
  10. Oct Low
  11. Nov Rare
  12. Dec Rare

Low Active Peak This month

Signs to look for

  • Biting within minutes of being outdoors or near standing water
  • Puddles that never drain after rain
  • Egg rafts on the surface of standing water
  • Birds or amphibians behaving unusually

Call a professional when

  • Standing water you cannot drain or treat, such as a pond or a low yard
  • Recurring bites despite draining every container on the property
  • A household with a pregnancy, immune suppression or a history of West Nile virus
  • Property is within a mile of known mosquito vector districts
How to choose a pest control company

Safety first

Mosquitoes transmit West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis and La Crosse encephalitis. Protect skin with repellent first, then treat the yard; spraying alone rarely clears an active yard.

Our mosquitoes guides are being researched. Meanwhile, the profile above covers the signs, the risks and when to call a professional.

Keep mosquitoes out

  1. Empty and scrub standing water containers every week
  2. Treat remaining water with BTI or mosquito dunks, following the label
  3. Clear leaf litter and keep gutters draining
  4. Apply EPA-registered repellent before outdoor time, not after

Often confused or found together

All household insects
Flies Fruit flies, drain flies and house flies: find the breeding source first. Ticks Yard control, tick checks and safe removal to cut the risk of Lyme disease. Wasps & Yellow Jackets Paper wasps, yellow jackets and hornets: nest removal, traps and sting safety.
Photo credits

Thank you to Irina Petrova and Alvesgaspar for sharing these beautiful photographs and helping bring this guide to life.

Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0