Mosquito Control & Prevention Checklist

Conduct a full outdoor audit of all water-holding containers — plant pot saucers, buckets, old tires, birdbaths, children toys, unused flowerpots, folded tarps, tree hollows — tip them over, drill drainage holes, or store upside down

Inspect roof gutters — leaf litter and sludge clogging causes standing water, the number one outdoor mosquito breeding site; clean at least twice per year (once in spring, once in autumn)

All water storage containers (rain barrels, water tanks) must have tight-fitting lids — or add Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) mosquito dunks which are safe for people and pets, killing only mosquito larvae

Check that all window screens fit tightly with no holes — mesh smaller than 1mm blocks most adult mosquitoes; edges must be completely sealed with no gaps

Change pet drinking water and birdbath water completely every 3 days and scrub the container — the mosquito egg-to-adult cycle takes 7-10 days; changing water every 3 days reliably breaks their life cycle

Fill any low spots in the yard that collect water after rain — add soil to low areas or install drainage; for unavoidable standing water spots, add Bti mosquito dunks

Inspect the AC outdoor unit condensate drain line, basement sump pump pit, and rain barrel overflow outlet — these hidden water sources are most commonly overlooked; check each one

Outdoor trash bins must have tightly closed lids; drill small drainage holes (under 1mm) in the bin bottom to allow rainwater to drain without admitting mosquitoes

Install door sweeps on exterior doors and add automatic door closers — adult mosquitoes follow people indoors; be especially quick about closing doors at dusk and dawn

During peak mosquito activity (dusk through dawn), wear long sleeves and long pants — apply EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin to exposed skin, following product label instructions