Top Areas Mosquitoes Breed Around Your Home

Top Areas Mosquitoes Breed Around Your Home in Chesterfield

The single worst fact about mosquito breeding is that they only need a bottle cap of stagnant water, left out for a week, to start the next generation. Just think about how many bottle-cap-sized water sources are sitting around your property right now. Probably more than you’d guess!

Another fact that’s working against you is that Chesterfield is right next to Crosswicks Creek, and there is a lot of agricultural drainage running through here. Add to that the humid summers of New Jersey and all of those mosquito breeding sites stay viable a lot longer than you’d expect them to.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it. Once you know the kind of places mosquitoes tend to gather, you can push back and make it that much harder for them to take over your property.

Gutters and Downspouts

This is the number one overlooked breeding site, and it's probably the most productive one. A clogged gutter holds water for weeks or months. It's out of sight, so nobody thinks about it. Meanwhile, it's producing mosquitoes nonstop.

Even gutters that aren't fully clogged can hold water if they're sagging or misaligned. Downspouts can be a problem, too, because they can dump into low spots near your foundation. The point is that if you haven’t cleaned your gutters since fall, they’re probably holding water right now.

Plant Saucers, Pots, Decorative Containers, & Birdbaths

That ceramic planter on your patio with the saucer underneath probably collected water last time it rained. And if you’re like most people, you probably didn’t think to drain it because it’s so small. The same can be said of decorative pots along your walkway and the watering can left by the garden.

These sources all feel way too small to matter, but they’re not. Mosquitoes like small, stagnant water sources. That’s where they prefer to lay their eggs. And the uncomfortable fact is that even one saucer or birdbath that hasn’t been emptied in a week can support a new generation of mosquitoes every ten days.

Tarps, Covers, & Folds

Pool covers, grill covers, boat covers, tarps over firewood—all of these collect rainwater in their folds and creases. And once there, water pools and sits still, and as you likely guessed, becomes a mosquito breeding site.

If you have a mosquito problem and you can’t figure out what’s behind it, it’s worth walking your property after every rain. If you come across tarps or covers where water is pooling, push the water off so it doesn’t collect.

Children's Toys and Yard Equipment

Anything with a cavity can hold water, and that includes little red wagons and children’s buckets, sandbox covers, and plastic playhouses. Tire swings are particularly bad about this. The tire holds water inside where you can’t see it and mosquitoes also benefit from the shaded interior.

The fix here is simple. Flip or dump toys and equipment after rain, or store them under cover when not in use.

Irrigation Systems, Tree Holes, & Stumps

Sprinkler systems that overshoot create puddles in low spots and along hardscape edges. If you see water pooling on your property after the irrigation cycle runs, adjust the heads or fix the drainage. This is easy to miss if you have everything set up on a timer.

Trees themselves can also give mosquitoes places to harbor. Holes in trees and old stumps are good places for mosquitoes to breed. If you have mature trees on your lot, these natural water-holding spots are worth checking.

Still Need Help with Chesterfield Mosquito Control?

Getting rid of breeding sites on your property is the single most effective DIY step available. But in a community like Chesterfield, you can do everything right and still wind up needing help.

And if you find that to be the case, professional Chesterfield mosquito control from Mosquito Squad of Moorestown-Mount Laurel can help. A technician can come over to your property and find the breeding hotspots. Then they’ll apply a barrier treatment that helps protect you from mosquitoes for up to 21 days.

Want to find out where mosquitoes are breeding on your Chesterfield property? Call Mosquito Squad of Moorestown-Mount Laurel at (856) 300-6146 or contact us online for a free quote.