The water mosquitoes need to breed doesn’t always come from rain. It can also come from human sources like irrigation runoff, ornamental water features, neglected pools, leaky hose connections, and container water around homes.
Southern California is dry for most of the year. You might expect that to prevent mosquitoes, but it doesn’t, and that’s frustrating. Most of the water sources that mosquitoes need to breed are supplied by humans.
With so little rain, you might think mosquitoes would have no place to call home in Southern California. But that’s not the case, because we have a lot of irrigation here. And that alone is the biggest source of standing water. Sprinklers water lawns and gardens regularly, and the runoff has to go somewhere. That somewhere often means low spots and drainage catch basins where the water will sit stagnant for a long time.
This happens often on a residential scale. You can see it with overwatered yards where standing puddles persist for days. And, unlike in, say, Minnesota, Southern California stays warm. So that means mosquitoes can stay active long after they have become quiet in the rest of the country.
Water in containers is the other factor. The invasive Aedes mosquitoes that have established across Southern California (including Aedes aegypti) breed in as little as a bottle cap of water. Entire generations of mosquitoes can often start from a forgotten dog bowl or the saucer under a potted plant.
If you have a swimming pool or spa, it’s important to make sure it stays filtered and chemically maintained. Otherwise, it can become a mosquito breeding site within a few days. Even a pool that’s being well-maintained can be an issue if the surrounding deck area holds standing water in drains or decorations.
The dry climate even concentrates the problem to some degree. Natural standing water is scarce, so mosquitoes go to the artificial ones instead. These, unfortunately, tend to be on residential properties.
If mosquitoes are a persistent problem on your North Orange County property, Mosquito Squad of North Orange County can help. Mosquito Squad treats the resting and breeding areas around your home, reducing mosquito populations by up to 90% with regular technician visits throughout the season.
