Mosquitoes are both a nuisance and a public health concern in the Bay Area. With West Nile virus established in our region and Aedes mosquito species expanding northward in California, effective mosquito management in your yard is worth taking seriously.
Know Your Mosquito
Not all mosquitoes behave the same way. In the Bay Area, two groups are most relevant to residential pest control:
Culex mosquitoes are active at dusk and dawn and breed in stagnant, nutrient-rich water. They are the primary vector of West Nile virus in California. Common breeding sources include clogged gutters, neglected pools, drainage ditches, and water that sits undisturbed for more than a week.
Aedes mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters that breed in very small containers. If you’re being bitten during the day, you likely have Aedes activity. Their eggs can survive drying and hatch when water returns — making them especially persistent.
Mosquito-Proof Your Yard: Practical Steps
- Empty or dump anything in the yard holding standing water weekly
- Clean gutters and ensure they drain properly
- Change bird bath water every 3–4 days
- Treat ornamental ponds with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) — safe for fish, frogs, and wildlife
- Fix drainage low spots in lawn and landscaping
- Keep pools chlorinated and circulating
Professional Mosquito Control
When standing water elimination is not sufficient to reduce mosquito pressure, professional treatment can help. ATCO’s mosquito management program uses an IPM approach — inspection, targeted treatment of adult resting areas, and larvicide application in breeding sources that can’t be eliminated. Contact us to schedule an evaluation.