How to tell you have them
You already know. What matters is which kind. Small black and white mosquitoes that bite during the day, especially at the ankles, are Aedes mosquitoes such as the Asian tiger mosquito. They breed in tiny amounts of water in containers: plant saucers, toys, tarps, clogged gutters, bird baths and the cups of bromeliads. Mosquitoes that bite at dusk and through the night are more often Culex, which breed in storm drains and stagnant water.
What they damage
Mosquitoes make the yard unusable, and they can carry diseases such as West Nile virus; Florida has also had local cases of dengue in recent years. Our service reduces mosquitoes in your yard. It does not replace repellent, and it is no substitute for the county’s own mosquito control program.
What treatment looks like
Each visit has two parts. First, the water: we walk the yard, tip out containers, point out gutters and drains that hold water, and treat water that cannot be drained with a larvicide that stops larvae from becoming biting adults. Second, the resting spots: adult mosquitoes spend the hot part of the day in shade, so we treat the undersides of shrubs, dense ground cover and the shady side of fences and the house. We avoid treating flowering plants where bees are working.
How long it takes
Most yards notice fewer bites within a few days. The treatment of resting spots lasts a few weeks, which is why the warm-season visits are monthly. Heavy rain resets the water part of the job, so tipping containers after a storm makes a real difference. Florida’s own advice is “drain and cover”: drain standing water and cover your skin.
Florida notes
In our seasonal model, mosquito activity builds from May and peaks in August, with the rainy season. Homes near Lake Seminole, the bayous and mangrove shorelines see the season start earlier. Mosquito yard treatment is part of the Complete plan, monthly from April to October.