Controlling Mosquitoes in your home and on your premises
By Robert N. Brewer, Jr. Extension Service Agent UGA

Mosquitoes can be quite vexing and sometimes a serious problem. In the home, about the yard and in public parks, they can interfere with man's chores and spoil his enjoyment of leisure time. Some species of mosquitoes are able to transmit diseases such as malaria to man, various types of encephalitis to man and horses and heartworms to dogs.

Breeding Habits

In most parts of the United States, mosquitoes breed during spring, summer and fall. In warm, southern areas, they may breed throughout the year during warm wet spells.

Water is necessary for breeding. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs on water or in places that later become flooded. There are over 50 species of mosquitoes in Georgia, but fortunately only 10 or 12 are pests to man. Different species require different types of water habitats. Examples are salt marshes, swamps, woodland pools, artificial containers such as tires, polluted water in ponds and ditches and tree holes.

Biting and Fight Habits

Most female mosquitoes seek a blood meal at evening and dawn, but there are exceptions. The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, will bite during the day - more commonly in shaded areas.

Most mosquitoes can fly about a mile from their breeding area to seek a blood meal, but again, there are exceptions. Salt marsh mosquitoes may fly 25-35 miles from their breeding site, while aegypti and albopictus fly only a few hundred feet.

Disease

Female mosquitoes suck blood and spit saliva (to keep the blood from coagulating) in a different host each time a blood meal is needed to lay her eggs. The mosquito is thus a "flying syringe" which can pick up a disease from one host, if it is infected and carry it to another. Yellow fever, dengue and malaria were once common diseases in Georgia in the past, but they have long been eradicated. The mosquitoes that carried disease are still present, but in the absence of the disease agent, the only discomfort to us now is the bite itself.

Various types of a virus encephalitis occur mainly in birds and small mammals. The transmission of encephalitis is eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) which sometimes attacks the central nervous system of horses and very rarely, humans in Georgia.

Mosquitoes (or any other insect), do NOT carry the AIDS virus.

Control

Since many mosquitoes can fly long distances, many communities in Georgia have an organized mosquito control program to give area wide control. Support of your local program, it you have one, is your best option. There more than a hundred programs in Georgia.

Many mosquitoes that bite you may be breeding in your own yard. If mosquitoes are biting you during the day, you probably have Aedes aegypti or albopictus. Since they don't even fly very far from their breeding area, you could be raising them in your own yard.

Methods you and your neighbors can use to reduce mosquito breeding:

Clean out eaves, troughs and gutters.

Remove old tires or drill holes in those used for playground equipment to allow them to drain. Tires are very attractive breeding sites for several mosquitoes that bite humans. Cover stacked tires with plastic or store under a shelter to avoid rain filling them with water.

Turn over or remove plastic pots.

Pick up broken, unused or discarded toys.

Pick up all beverage containers and cups.

Check tarps on boats or other equipment that may collect water in pockets or indentations.

Replace water in birdbaths at least twice a week.

Replace water in pet or other animal feeding dishes or troughs at least twice a week.

Dispose of broken or unused kiddie pools.

Pick up plastic wrappers used for food or other products; mosquitoes can breed even in a discarded potato chip bag that has collected water.

Don't leave garbage can lids lying around upside down.

Change water in bottom of plant containers, including hanging plants, at least twice a week.

Remove vegetation or obstructions in drainage ditches that prevent the flow of water.

Fix dripping outdoor faucets that create pools of water.

You can avoid or repel mosquitoes by the following:

Wear protective clothing, long pants, long-sleeve shirt, shoes and socks during times and in locations of high mosquito incidence. Mosquitoes are less attracted to light clothing than dark. Be aware mosquitoes can bite right through tshirts and other lightweight, tight-fitting clothing.

During periods of extremely high mosquito incidence, stay indoors as much as possible.

Use an insect repellent before going into high-risk areas or when outside during high-risk times. The most effective protection may be obtained through the use of products containing at least 20 to 30 percent of N, N-diethylm toluamide (DEET). Follow the instructions carefully and do not over apply. Mosquitoes will bite unprotected skin, so apply repellent to all exposed areas of the body as well as to your clothing (using deet in an aerosol). Don't allow repellent to get in your eyes, mouth or nose. Permanone is another repellent that is used on the clothing only. It not only repels but also kills and is longer lasting than deet. The best protection is to use deet on the skin and Permanone on the clothing.

Do not rely on electronic bug killers or ultrasonic (sound) repellents for protection. They have not been shown to be effective.

Keep window screens and screened rooms in good repair.

Screen doors should open outward and have automatic closing devices and latches to prevent them from being accidentally left ajar.

Mosquitoes don't like strong wind currents. Sitting by a fan will repel them.

Call the environmental health unit of your county health department to find out if there is a mosquito abatement program (spraying) in your area. If not, extra care in following these recommendations may be warranted.

There are a variety of methods to kill mosquitoes:

Pyrethrin aerosols will kill mosquitoes in the house.

Burning mosquito coils, usually containing pyrethrin, at a stationary location outside can give relief in the immediate area.

Hand held fogging devices using a pyrethroid insecticide may be purchased from hardware and garden shops to give temporary control outdoors.

Goldfish in ornamental ponds will feed on the mosquito larva.

One tablespoon of salt or two squirts of dishwasher detergent in an automobile tire will kill the mosquito larvae.

Summary

The greatest importance mosquitoes have in Georgia is the discomfort from their biting. By reducing the breeding sites on you own property and taking a few precautions, you can greatly reduce the problem.