Mosquito breeding around the home can be reduced
significantly by reducing the amount of standing
water available for mosquito breeding. Below
are some ways to achieve this.
- Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic
pots or similar water-holding containers that
have accumulated on your property. Do not overlook
containers that have become overgrown by aquatic
vegetation.
- Pay special attention to discarded tires that
may have accumulated on your property. The used
tire has become the most important domestic
mosquito producer in this country.
- Drill holes in the bottom and elevate recycling containers
that are left out of doors. Drainage holes that
are located on the sides collect enough water
for mosquitoes to breed in.
- Clean clogged roof gutters on an annual basis,
particularly if the leaves from surrounding
trees have a tendency to plug up the drains.
Roof gutters are easily overlooked but can produce
millions of mosquitoes each season. Homeowners should also check the gutters in the spring to remove winter debris before the season starts and often in the fall when tress begin to lose their leaves.
- Turn over plastic wading pools when not in
use. A wading pool becomes a mosquito producer
if it is not used on a regular basis.
- Turn over wheelbarrows and do not allow water
to stagnate in bird baths. Both provide breeding
habitat for mosquitoes.
- Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with
fish. Water gardens are fashionable but become
major mosquito producers if they are allowed
to stagnate.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools that are
not being used. A swimming pool that is left
untended by a family that goes on vacation for
a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result
in neighborhood-wide complaints. Be aware that
mosquitoes may even breed in the water that
collects on swimming pool covers.
- Use landscaping to eliminate standing water
that collects on your property. Mosquitoes will
develop in any puddle that lasts more than 4
days.
- Maintain mechanical barriers (i.e., window
and door screens) to prevent mosquitoes from
entering buildings. Barriers over rain barrels
or cistern and septic pipes will deny female
mosquitoes the opportunity to lay eggs on water.
Source (in part) from: Controlling
Mosquitoes Around the Home, by Wayne J. Crans,
Associate Research Professor and Farida Mahmood,
Research Associate Department of Entomology, New
Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. |