Steps for effective mosquito control

Ray Ridlen
OSU Extension

May 03, 2007 10:48 pm

— When it comes to mosquito control, one of the most effective tools available is awareness of mosquito biology so you can eliminate future mosquito breeding sites from your yard.
Homeowners should be aware of the life cycle of mosquitoes so you can take steps to avoid growing mosquito larvae in water containers on your property. They also should eliminate larval breeding sites such as discarded tires, beverage cups/litter and unused children’s wading pools. Residents should clean and replenish pet water and bird baths every three days, clean roof gutters to allow proper drainage, prevent standing water in flower pots, ensure good property drainage and plug hollow tree stumps.
Water gardens or small fountains should be treated with larvicides or contain mosquito-eating fish to prevent emerging adult mosquitoes. Maintenance of screen doors and windows will prevent adult mosquitoes from entering homes. Remember, any container that will hold water for five to seven days is a potential breeding site for mosquito larvae.
One of the simplest ways to reduce larval mosquito populations is to drain any unnecessary containers/pools of water that allow mosquito larval development. If it is not possible to drain areas, then treating them with larvicides if they are supporting larvae is an alternative. Many mosquito larvicides on the market are host specific and only disrupt the larval stages of mosquitoes and do not harm non-target species.
People can reduce their exposure to biting mosquitoes by wearing insect repellent when they are outdoors. They also can avoid being outside at dawn, early evening and dusk when the majority of biting female mosquitoes are active. Wearing long-sleeved clothing with long pants also provides protection.
Repellents that contain from 10 percent to 30 percent DEET are most effective, but always read and follow label directions for proper application. Special care should be taken when applying repellents to children.
Homeowner chemical control for adult mosquitoes is not practical and decisions about control should be left up to municipal regulation. Area-wide chemical control for adult mosquitoes in Oklahoma typically is applied by thermal fogging or Ultra Low Volume spraying. This type of control is not usually effective in Oklahoma because it is rare for conditions to be conducive for fogging adult mosquitoes.
Adult mosquitoes must come into contact with the pesticide, so timing of application is critical. Since different mosquito species are active during different periods throughout a 24-hour day, it is critical to fog at exactly the proper time to get effective control of the target species. Extensive behavioral knowledge of the species to be controlled must be utilized and the spray applied only when adults are active.
Weather conditions must be considered, as windy conditions usually present in the spring in Oklahoma may cause pesticides to drift out of an area so they never reach their intended target.
Mosquito control products available for consumer use typically are sold through local home and garden supply stores.
Product availability may vary according to location and state regulation.
(Ray Ridlen is a horticulture educator for the Oklahoma County OSU Extension Service.)