Preventing mosquitoes requires ongoing maintenance of outdoor conditions that provide standing water for eggs and larvae to mature. 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. ^[4]

Humidity and wet conditions like heavy rain and wet weather allow these conditions to reset throughout the spring, summer and fall. If there are larger bodies of water that are not used for drinking and cannot be covered, consider using larvicides to treat them. Larvicides are very effective in eliminating mosquito larvae and creating new broods after each rainfall or reproductive cycle.^[4]

To kill adult mosquitoes, an outdoor adulticide is recommended. According to the CDC website, adulticides are available in three forms: coils, foggers and yard sprays/aerosols.^[4] Always follow the product label instructions when using these products. Once outdoor standing water conditions are removed or minimalized, adults will rest under plants, dense brush and tall grasses as well as under leaves and bushes. They rest in moist, shady areas and can be found under porches and decks as well. Knowing where adult mosquitoes can reside is useful when using outdoor mosquito products. Selecting a solution to repel or kill mosquitoes is better served if you can determine all the conditions where they could be breeding or resting.