Technically no, but practically yes. Mosquitoes in Los Angeles can breed in very small containers of water, roughly the size of a bottle cap, and those can be very hard to find even if you are looking for them.
Homeowners across LA know how to manage mosquitoes. They dump every saucer, scrub the birdbath, and still get bitten in their own yards at noon. So many people, maybe yourself included, feel like mosquitoes come from nowhere and are an unstoppable force. What's happening in reality is more interesting.
Mosquitoes need very little water to breed. They only need a bottle cap worth of it to start the next generation. Bromeliads and similar plants hold water in the cup where each leaf meets the stem. Curbside storm drains and catch basins hold stagnant water for weeks. Irrigation systems have valve boxes, meter boxes, and utility vaults that sit below grade. These tend to collect water. Corrugated drainage pipes are notorious for breeding mosquitoes, as are clogged gutters. Tarp folds and pool covers, when sagging, do the same thing.
Aedes mosquitoes are an aggressive daytime-biting species now established throughout Los Angeles County. They do not deposit eggs directly into water. Instead, they lay them on damp surfaces immediately above the waterline. A container can be bone-dry all summer, catch rain after a storm, soak eggs that have been sitting there for months, then hatch a bunch of mosquitoes.
It helps to dump and scrub containers weekly. If you have bromeliads, flush their cups with a hose from time to time. Also be sure to check irrigation for standing water and leaks. Then treat the shaded foliage where the adult mosquitoes rest during the day.
If you have mosquitoes in your yard and cannot find the source, Mosquito Squad of Los Angeles can help. Mosquito Squad treats the shaded areas where mosquitoes rest and checks your property for the water sources you cannot see. This will help you protect your yard with up to 90% reduction in mosquito activity on a recurring 21-day cycle.
