Dump and Drain!!
Residential neighborhood and backyard mosquito sources must be taken seriously. They contribute enormously to the number of mosquitoes biting in your neighborhood! The mosquitoes produced in backyards here in Sutter and Yuba Counties are principal vectors of West Nile Virus. Now that the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito has come to our area, these types of sources are exactly what they are looking for to lay their eggs in (please see section on invasive mosquitoes on this website). If water is allowed to stand for just a few days in your backyard, adult female mosquitoes will find this water and lay thousands of eggs in it! The eggs will hatch into mosquito larvae (wigglers), and within a few days turn into hungry biting adult mosquitoes. Raising mosquitoes in your own backyard is an unnecessary risk that can be eliminated. Here is a list of common backyard mosquito breeding sources.
| plugged roof gutters | unmaintained green pools and spas | miscellaneous containers |
| bird baths | pet water dishes/ kiddie pools | landscape lighting |
| wheelbarrows | animal watering troughs | uncovered boats |
| flooded basements | uncapped metal fence posts | leaky swamp coolers |
| uncovered dumpsters | hollowed out areas in trees | rain storage barrels |
| ornamental ponds | lawn sculptures or ornaments | plant pots and saucers |
| uncovered trash cans | tarps holding water | tires and junk piles |
Feel free to highlight and print out this list as a reminder. Let your neighbors know as well. Remember, mosquitoes aren't picky! The mosquitoes produced next door will take your blood as willingly as anyone else's. Any of the above water sources can become ideal breeding micro-habitats. Check your yard for these sources regularly, especially after rains, watering or irrigations. Dump or flush out water every few days, introduce mosquitofish or consider purchasing a larvicide product when other methods won't stop mosquito larval production. Most home-use larvicide products are harmless to the environment and will not hurt people, pets or wildlife when they are used in accordance with the label directions. You are likely to find these products at hardware, home-improvement, garden, pool and or pet stores. There are three types of home-use larvicides readily available for mosquito larval control. Larvicides containing the active ingredient methoprene are sold under the brand names Altosid, Prestrike and Zodiac. Bacillus sphaericus is a second type of larvicide you may be able to purchase and is sold under the brand names Vectolex and Mosquito Bits. A third type is called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. This larvicide is sold under the brand names Vectobac and Mosquito Dunks. Please thoroughly read product labels before purchasing to determine the suitability of the product. Follow all label directions for use. This information is provided as a public service and should not be considered an endorsement of the products or any retailers.
