Are You Breeding Mosquitoes?
A successful countywide mosquito control program requires the elimination of water sources where mosquitoes breed. Once the adult mosquitoes have emerged from the water, their control is much more difficult to accomplish.
Running streams and creeks have moving water and are generally not good breeding sites for mosquitoes. The mosquito species involved in the transmission of West Nile Virus in our County can breed in standing water around households. Raingutters, pools, flower pots and cans are amongst many possible sources.
The SCCVCD annually conducts a series of aerial surveys throughout the County to monitor for the presence of neglected swimming pools. However, since mosquitoes need only small amounts of water to breed, it is impossible to have an effective mosquito control program without the collaboration of the residents.
What can you do?
You can help us by dumping or draining standing water on your property. Please review this brochure with illustrations of known household mosquito sources and see the list of preventive measures below.
| Managing Common Local Mosquito-Breeding Sources |
| Inspect for Breeding Sources |
Implement Control Measures |
| Containers (boats, buckets, drums, garbage cans, etc.) |
• Flip, dump, or drain
• Cover so mosquitoes cannot enter |
| Swimming pools and spas |
• Chlorinate
• Use filter regularly
• Cover tightly when not in use and keep water off cover
• If not in use and unmaintainable, stock pools with mosquito fish (request here from the SCCVCD for free) |
| Wading pools |
• Drain water when not in use
• If water must remain in pool, cover so mosquitoes cannot enter |
| Ponds |
• Stock pond with mosquito fish (request here from the SCCVCD for free)
• Remove excess emergent vegetation |
| Outdoor pet water bowls |
• Change water daily |
| Bird baths |
• Change water at least once a week
• Use retail mosquito control dunks or granules |
| Tree holes |
• Fill hole with sand or mortar
• Contact a tree service |
| Old tires |
• Dispose appropriately |
| Roof gutters |
• Clean once a year to remove debris |
| Basement and under house water |
• Correct the cause of the standing water
• Drain the area |
| Flower pots |
• Drain or dump water in pot and saucers |
| Irrigated lawns or fields |
• Avoid over irrigation
• Ensure that standing water lasts no more than five days |
| Street gutter or catch basins |
• Do not dispose of litter and garden debris in gutter or basins
• Do not over water yard
• Smaller puddles can be swept into the street with a broom |
| Any other source of standing water in your yard |
• Drain or Dump |
| Any other source of standing water in your neighborhood |
• Report it here to the SCCVCD |