Walk your property after a rain and look for anything holding standing water (even small amounts). Breeding sites include clogged gutters, plant saucers, tarps, tire swings, and low spots in the landscape that stay wet for more than a few days.
If mosquitoes are a constant problem in your yard, there's a good chance they're breeding on your property. This is why it helps so much to find and eliminate these breeding zones. To do this, it helps to know what to look for.
Mosquitoes need standing water to reproduce. Females lay eggs on or near the water surface, and larvae develop in the water over 7–14 days before emerging as flying adults. The water doesn't need to be deep or permanent, and in fact, just a tablespoon of water sitting for a week is enough.
Clogged gutters that hold water after rain are common offenders. So are plant pot saucers, especially under larger containers that don't get moved often. Tarps draped over firewood or equipment will often collect puddles in their folds. Kids' toys, perhaps thrown off the deck by an excited toddler, can fill with rain when left outside.
Do a slow lap around your property after a heavy rain. Check anything that could hold water. Flip over buckets, empty saucers, dump water off tarps and covers. Look at the corrugated drain pipe extensions, as water can often sit in the ridges. Likewise, check garbage can lids, wheelbarrows, and birdbaths.
In Middlesex and New London Counties, properties often include older landscaping features like stone walls, garden borders, and ornamental elements that trap water in crevices. Tree holes in mature hardwoods hold water for weeks. Low spots in gravel paths and garden beds stay wet long after the rest of the yard dries out.
You can’t eliminate every possible water source. But reducing the obvious ones often helps a lot. If you’ve done this and you’re still dealing with mosquitoes on your property, Mosquito Squad of Middlesex-New London can help. A technician can identify breeding sites you may have missed and treat the areas where mosquitoes rest and breed, reducing the population by up to 90% for 21 days at a time.
