What Attracts Mosquitoes to Your Yard

Mosquitoes need water, food, and shelter to survive. If your backyard is offering these essentials, you may be unknowingly creating a mosquito haven. Here are six things that attract mosquitoes to your yard and the Cowley team’s recommendations to make your space less hospitable: 

1. Standing water. Water is essential for mosquitoes to breed. In fact, the first three of a mosquito’s four life stages take place in water. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a teaspoon or capful of water. Eliminating the large and obvious water sources may be easy. But uncovering those tiny areas of standing water needed for mosquito breeding may not be as simple as you may think. Some commonly overlooked areas of standing water are: kids toys, tarps, furniture or grill covers that allow water to pool, overwatered potted plants and flowerpot dishes that do not offer drainage, birdbaths, dog bowls, candles, plastic toys, and more.  

Inspect your backyard for these overlooked standing water sources, don’t skip over the small ones. Store kids' toys in a deck box, drill drainage holes into potted plant dishes, and shake tarps, furniture, and grill covers after rainstorms. Contact us about treating ponds or water fixtures on your property for mosquitoes.  

1. Poor drainage. Low spots in a lawn or garden can allow water to pool. Whether it is due to the lay of the land, overused lawn sprinklers or overwatering, or poor lawn drainage, mosquitoes are attracted to those wet, muddy areas as they offer them the perfect breeding ground. 

If you notice water pooling in low-lying areas of your lawn, fill it in with sand and or soil and re-seed wherever possible. A lawn drainage company may be needed to properly solve the problem and divert stormwater to an appropriate evacuation point.   

1. Clogged gutters and drains. One of the most overlooked breeding sites around a home are clogged gutters. Leaves, pine needles, and other debris can easily prevent water from freely flowing through your gutters and drainpipes. Regularly cleaning gutters is essential or the stagnant water in those backed-up gutters can begin serving as the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests. 

If you live in a wooded area and are prone to clogged gutters consider having self-cleaning gutter guards installed. The right gutter guard will avoid debris from entering your gutters and building up, keep water flowing freely and prevent your gutters from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests.  

1. Tall grass and leaf litter. Shelter is one of the essentials mosquitoes need to live. Allowing grass to grow too tall will attract mosquitoes seeking out a damp and shady place to hide. Avoid allowing the grass to grow too tall as grass cuttings are left behind and another major mosquito attractant. 

Mow regularly and rake up or mulch any excessive grass cuttings and fallen leaves. Keeping a well-maintained lawn won’t only improve your curb appeal, it will also reduce the risk of attracting mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests into your backyard. 

1. Overgrown shrubs and ornamentals. Just like tall grass, shrubs and ornamentals can offer the perfect shelter for mosquitoes. Overgrown bushes can maintain moisture and offer shade and a perfect resting spot for mosquitoes on a hot day. 

Consider incorporating plants and ornamentals that naturally deter mosquitoes into your landscape design. Catnip, lemongrass, marigolds, mint, and lavender are just some landscape choices that will deter mosquitoes from resting nearby. Choosing these natural deterrents near your sitting areas can help cut back on the number of mosquitoes. 

1. Ventilated crawlspaces. An often-overlooked breeding area around the home is the ventilated crawlspace. These areas of the home tend to be hot and humid during the summer months and mostly go undisturbed, making them especially attractive to mosquitoes. Crawlspaces may offer a water source for breeding mosquitoes, particularly when no vapor barrier and dehumidifier is in place. This happens when condensation builds up on the ductwork or a plumbing issue takes place, water drips or runs off and the pools beneath the pipes. That bit of undisturbed water can easily serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.  

Crawlspace encapsulation along with a whole-house dehumidifier have benefits way beyond mosquito control. Sealing a crawlspace will improve the air quality within the home, keep out wildlife and other pests that are known to infest these open areas, protect the home by reducing moisture, lower energy bills, and more. 

When it comes to mosquito prevention, your best offense is a good defense. Taking the time to make a few tweaks around your lawn and landscape could help you to enjoy your backyard again with fewer mosquitoes to fend off. 

If mosquitoes are a nuisance preventing you from enjoying time outside, consider Cowley’s Mosquito Reduction Program. Our team is adept at uncovering those overlooked mosquito breeding sites and also familiar with control of the common mosquito species of New Jersey including the Asian Tiger mosquito, an aggressive daytime biter. Whether you are simply trying to enjoy your backyard or you want to control mosquitoes at an upcoming special outdoor event, call Cowleys for a mosquito control and reduction program. Click here to learn more about our mosquito service.