Mosquito Education

About Mosquitos

  • All mosquitos breed in water; in fact, they spend 3/4 of their life cycle in standing water.
  • Female mosquitos can lay 50 to 400 eggs in rafts on the water, singly on the side of a container, or in the dirt along with flood-prone areas like ditches.
  • Water temperature and organic matter will allow eggs to hatch in as few as 24 hours.
  • Mosquito larvae breathe air through an air tube or siphon and need calm water to develop.
  • Adult mosquitos can emerge in as few as 3 days. Adults rest during the day, usually in buildings, plants, and moist grass.
  • Female mosquitos mostly bite animals and occasionally bite humans. The blood meal is for egg development. Most mosquitos are only active at dusk, dawn, and night.

Prevent Mosquitos

  • Mosquitos must have water to complete their life cycle. Stop their life cycle by draining standing water on your property.
  • Drain or fill in low places in your yard.
  • Keep gutters, culverts, and drain ditches free of grass and debris.
  • Adult mosquitos rest during the day. Keep grass short and shrubbery trimmed so adult mosquitos will not hide there.
  • Use screens on windows and doors. Repair any holes in screens to keep mosquitos outside.
  • Cover cribs, strollers, and baby carriers with mosquito netting.
  • Remember the 4 Ds of Mosquito Protection.
  • Water can collect in many places. Keep the following free of standing water to prevent mosquitos: 
    • Barrels
    • Flower Pots
    • Kiddie Pools
    • Kids' Toys
    • Tires

View our gallery of places water can collect.

The 4 D's of Mosquito Protection

  1. Defend
  2. Drain
  3. Dress
  4. Dusk & Dawn

Using Insect Repellent

Skin Repellent

  • Always follow all label instructions
    • Reapply every few hours, depending on the product and strength
  • Do not apply repellent onto a child's hands, eyes, mouth, and cut or irritated skin
    • Spray repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child's face
  • Do not use on children under 2 months of age
  • If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first, and insect repellent second
  • Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered repellent
    • Active Ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, Bayrepel, Icaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), Para-menthane-diol (PMD), IR3535

Clothing Repellent

  • Do not use permethrin directly on the skin
  • Purchase permethrin-treated clothing and gear
    • Permethrin-treated clothes will protect you after multiple washings
  • Use permethrin to treat clothing
    • Follow product instructions when treating clothing yourself

Natural Repellants

The EPA has not evaluated natural repellents, but they may also be useful: 

  • Cedar Oil
  • Citronella Oil
  • Geranium Oil
  • Peppermint Oil
  • Soybean Oil