Summer Mosquito & Fly Control Checklist

Zero out all outdoor standing water — plant pot saucers, buckets, old tires, children toys, birdbaths, folded tarp creases, tree hollows, clogged gutters: every single water-holding site is a mosquito nursery

Birdbaths and outdoor pet drinking bowls — change water completely and scrub the inner walls every 3 days (mosquito eggs stick to the walls), or install a small recirculating pump to keep water moving

Rain barrels and water storage containers — must have tight-fitting lids, or add Bti mosquito dunks; Bti kills only mosquito larvae and is harmless to humans, pets, bees, and birds

Check that every window screen fits tightly against its frame — mosquitoes can squeeze through a gap as small as 3mm between the screen and window frame

Outdoor trash bins — lids must snap tightly closed; kitchen waste bins are especially important (attract flies for egg-laying); wash bin interiors weekly

Clean up fallen fruit under trees (rotting fruit) and pet waste from the yard — fermenting fruit juice and feces are both fly breeding sites and food sources

Evaluate outdoor lighting — replace white/blue light bulbs with warm yellow or warm LED bulbs; white and blue light is far more attractive to flying insects than warm yellow light

Inspect the AC condensate drain line outlet — ensure water does not pool at the wall base; channel water away from the foundation with gravel or a drainage line

After outdoor meals, immediately clean up food scraps and spilled drinks — sugary drinks spilled on the ground attract ants, wasps, and flies within minutes; wipe tables and the ground with a wet cloth

At dusk and dawn (mosquito activity peaks) — close doors and windows or ensure screens are intact; wear light-colored long sleeves and pants (dark clothing attracts more mosquitoes); apply DEET- or Picaridin-based repellent to exposed skin