Tips for Mosquito Prevention
Basic mosquito control techniques can be performed by the general public as effectively as by mosquito control technicians. As a team, we can work together to reduce mosquito populations to controlled levels. Here are activities that you can do around your house to eliminate mosquito breeding. Remember, it only takes one week to breed a mosquito so be sure to repeat these activities.
INSPECT around your home weekly for containers, standing water, and other areas that could hold water.
TIP & TOSS containers including:
- Buckets
- Children’s toys
- Storage bins
- Unused pots
- Old tires
- Pet dishes
- Wheel barrels
DRAIN & COVER other types of containers such as:
- Garbage cans and their lids
- Rain barrels (cover the top with patio screen)
- Ornamental ponds
- Broken fountains
- Low areas in tarps
CLEAN & FLUSH water from other, more permanent water holding items at least twice a week, including:
- Bird baths
- Uncovered boats
- Bromeliads
- Other water-holding plants
- Clogged rain gutters
TREAT any other standing water site with mosquito larvicide, and follow the directions on the label. These items can be purchased at home improvement stores or through online retailers. Larvicides typically contain one of the following active ingredients:
- Methoprene
- Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (b.t.i.)
- Bacillus sphaericus (b.s.)
- Spinosad
EDUCATE your friends and neighbors on these techniques of preventing mosquito breeding.
WEAR long sleeved shirts and long pants. You can use permethrin-treated clothing to prevent mosquitoes from biting through thin clothing, but do not apply permethrin directly on skin. You can also use insect repellents containing some of the following active ingredients:
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus
- DEET
- Picaridin
- IR3535 repellent
CALL Mosquito Control at (772) 419-6974 if you have any mosquito-related concerns that you cannot address yourself or place an online service request through our Martin County Mosquito Control homepage.