They can, depending on how the system is set up and how well the yard drains. Overwatering, poor grading, and clogged emitters or heads can all create the standing water mosquitoes need to breed.
Orange County is dry for most of the year, and you would think that would help with mosquitoes. In practice, it doesn’t, and that’s a frustrating reality of living here. But the flip side of that is that you have more control over your mosquito problem than people in other parts of the country.
Mosquitoes need standing water to breed. Irrigation can give them that because as water goes into your lawn or garden, it can pool and sit stagnant. That gives mosquitoes what they need to breed. And once mosquitoes have the opportunity to do that, populations can explode quickly. Female mosquitoes only need about a bottle cap of water to breed and can lay 100–300 eggs at a time which can hatch in as little as a week.
If you had to blame one behavior for mosquito problems in Orange County, it would be overwatering. When sprinklers run longer than the soil can absorb, excess water pools in every low spot it can.
If you’re looking for simple ways you can reduce mosquito breeding issues, one is to water early in the morning so the soil can absorb excess water before the heat of the day. Another is to periodically walk the system while it’s running and look for pooling. If you notice grading issues that create low spots where water collects, consider regrading or filling in the low spots.
If you're managing irrigation and still dealing with mosquitoes on your North Orange County property, Mosquito Squad of North Orange County can help. Mosquito Squad treats the areas where mosquitoes rest and breed on your property. This can reduce the population by up to 90% at a time, with regular re-treatment every 21 days so your protection stays consistent.
