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Controlling Mosquitoes at Home

illustration of a woman pouring water from a bucket

Control mosquitoes outside your home

Remove standing water where mosquitoes could lay eggs

  • 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.
  • Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets, cisterns, rain barrels) so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs.
  • For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
  • Use larvicides to treat large containers of water that will not be used for drinking and cannot be covered or dumped out.
  • If you have a septic tank, repair cracks or gaps. Cover open vent or plumbing pipes. Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.

Kill mosquitoes outside your home

  • Use an outdoor insect spray made to kill mosquitoes in areas where they rest.
  • Mosquitoes rest in dark, humid areas like under patio furniture, or under the carport or garage. When using insecticides, always follow label instructions.
illustration of a mosquito that has been crossed out with a red mark

Control mosquitoes inside your home

Keep mosquitoes out

  • Install or repair and use window and door screens. Do not leave doors propped open.
  • Use air conditioning when possible.

Remove standing water where mosquitoes could lay eggs

  • Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out any items that hold water like vases and flowerpot saucers. Mosquitoes lay eggs near water.

Kill mosquitoes inside your home

  • Kill mosquitoes inside your home. Use an indoor insect fogger* or indoor insect spray* to kill mosquitoes and treat areas where they rest. These products work immediately, and may need to be reapplied. When using insecticides, always follow label directions. Only using insecticide will not keep your home free of mosquitoes.
  • Mosquitoes rest in dark, humid places like under the sink, in closets, under furniture, or in the laundry room.

 

Product Active ingredient How long it works
Indoor insect spray Imidacloprid, β-Cyfluthrin 7-10 days
Indoor insect spray Tetramethrin, Cypermethrin Up to 6 weeks

Mosquito Control Materials

Mosquito Control: What you need to know about using larvicides fact sheet thumbnail

Mosquito Control: What you need to know about using larvicides

Mosquito Control: What You Need to Know About Truck-Mounted Spraying factsheet thumbnail

Mosquito Control: What you need to know about truck-mounted spraying

Mosquito Control: What You Need to Know About Aerial Spraying fact sheet thumbnail

Mosquito Control: What you need to know about aerial spraying

Mosquito Control: What You Need to Know About Indoor Spraying fact sheet thumbnail

Mosquito Control: What you need to know about indoor spraying

Mosquito Control: What You Need to Know About Outdoor Spraying fact sheet thumbnail

Mosquito Control: What you need to know about outdoor spraying

Mosquito Control: What You Need to Know About Filling Tree Holes fact sheet thumbnail

Mosquito Control: What you need to know about filling tree holes

Mosquito Control: What You Need to Know About Using Adulticides factsheet thumbnail

Mosquito Control: What you need to know about using adulticides

Mosquito Control: What state and local mosquito control programs do fact sheet thumbnail

Mosquito Control: What state and local mosquito control programs do

Help Control Mosquitoes that spread dengue, chikungunya, annd zika viruses

Help control mosquitoes that spread dengue, chikungunya, and Zika

Keep mosquitoes out of your septic tank factsheet thumbnail

Keep mosquitoes out of your septic tank

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