Your Guide to Mosquito Larvae: How to Identify and Help Kill Them
Posted by Mosquito Squad
July 11, 2025
One of the best ways to reduce mosquitoes around your home is to tackle them before they ever take flight. If you live in a humid environment or near water, you can probably find mosquito larvae lurking nearby. They’re vulnerable at this stage and easier to control. Discover what attracts mosquito larvae and how to help kill them!
Mosquito Larvae Identification
Before killing mosquito larvae, you’ll need to know how to identify them and find their hiding spots.
What Do Mosquito Larvae Look Like in Water?
Mosquito larvae, or wrigglers, are tiny worm-like insects that will grow up to be adult mosquitoes. They are usually only about 1/4 inch long with a segmented body, large head, and no legs. You can usually see them moving just below the surface of still water.
Where to Find Mosquito Larvae
Larvae can be found in many places with standing water, including bird baths, clogged gutters, flowerpot saucers, rain barrels, marshes, ponds, or even unkept pool water. The most likely mosquito larvae habitats contain organic material that the larvae can feed on.
Will mosquito larvae live out of water? No, they cannot survive outside of water. Even though they breathe air through tubes called siphons at the surface of water, they will die if their full bodies are removed from an aquatic environment.
Read more: Poolside Pest Prevention – Keep Bugs Out of Your Pool
How to Kill Mosquito Larvae in Water
If you see water with mosquito larvae in it, try these methods as soon as possible:
- Empty standing water.
If it’s a bird bath or water feature, regularly replace or clean the water. If you dump water in your yard, be sure to put it in an area with good natural drainage.
Use mosquito dunks. Place them in a pond, dirty pool, or bucket of water. Be sure to drain the water a few weeks later – or at least skim the surface – to avoid attracting more mosquitoes with organic debris from the dead larvae. Mosquito dunks contain natural bacteria that kill mosquito larvae without harming other wildlife, pets, or humans.
- Introduce mosquito-eating animals.
What eats mosquito larvae? Some fish, dragonfly nymphs, aquatic beetles, and tadpoles eat larvae. Fish that eat mosquito larvae include goldfish, guppies, and mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). Put these fish in ponds or rain barrels to manage larvae.
- Disrupt the water.
Mosquitoes prefer to lay eggs in still water. Deter larval development by adding a small fountain or bubbler to your pond, pool, or birdbath. This will also reduce bacterial growth on the water’s surface, reducing food sources for the larvae.
- Apply essential oils or vinegar.
Try adding a few drops of natural essential oils, like cinnamon or lavender, or a small amount of apple cider vinegar to standing water. This can kill many mosquito larvae. However, be cautious when applying these methods around pets or beneficial insects.
Read more: How to Keep Mosquitoes Away from Your Pond
Mosquito Larvae Behavior
What Do Mosquito Larvae Eat?
Because mosquito wrigglers can’t fly or walk, they feed on the nearest microorganisms, algae, and other organic debris in water. This is why they are common in murky water with plenty of growth.
Do Mosquito Larvae Bite? Are They Dangerous?
No, mosquito larvae do not bite. They are immature forms of mosquitoes and cannot pierce skin or transmit disease. While wriggler mosquito larvae are not directly harmful, they will become dangerous once they’re able to fly away and spread disease.
Prevent Mosquito Larvae with Professional Support
Reducing mosquito larvae in your yard is worthwhile, but it won’t erase all your mosquito problems. Larval treatments only target one stage of the mosquito life cycle, not the adult stage. Even if breeding grounds are removed from your property, mosquitoes can still migrate from neighboring yards.
Pair your mosquito larvae control efforts with professional mosquito treatments and routine monitoring. The pros at Mosquito Squad Plus® provide reliable mosquito control services that help kill mosquitoes on contact and continue to repel them for up to 21 days. Our local teams know how to identify and target areas where mosquitoes might breed and thrive on your property.
Discover how your local Squad® can help you with mosquito larvae prevention and control. Call (877) 332-2239 or request a cost-free quote online.