Mosquitos
Alliance for Informed Mosquito Management (AIMM)
Learn more about what people are doing across the nation by linking to the ALLIANCE FOR INFORMED MOSQUITO MANAGEMENT (AIMM) and read about local educational opportunities provided by Harris County Mosquito Control.
Prevention
 Stop mosquito development by getting rid of standing water. Mosquitoes develop only in water. One teaspoon of standing water can produce an entire new crop!
- Empty, remove, cover or turn upside down any receptacle that can hold water (including old bottles, tin cans and saucers under flower pots).
- Change water in bird baths twice each week.
- Empty watering bowls of pets and other animals daily.
- Discard old tires or store them out of the rain.
- Screen rain barrels and openings to water tanks or cisterns.
- Repair leaky plumbing and outside faucets.
- Clean clogged roof gutters and drain flat roofs.
- Fill water-collecting cavities in trees with sand or put BTI mosquito dunks in them.
- Stock ornamental ponds with mosquito-eating fish, such as the Gambusia or “Mosquito Fish”.
- Underground watering or soaker hoses leave less standing water for mosquitoes than overhead watering.
Repellents
- Cover yourself with light weight clothing.
- Mix a few drops or more of essential oil of citronella in water in a spray bottle. Take it outdoors with you and spritz your exposed skin as needed to keep mosquitoes off and keep yourself cool.
- Purchase natural insect repellents containing cedar or citronella oil; "double strength" types work extremely well.
- Spray yourself with rosemary tea! Steep 2 tablespoons rosemary in 1 cup boiling water for 20 minutes, strain and cool.
- For yard parties surround area with citronella torches or bucket-candles (every 8-10 feet). Light 1-2 hours before party starts. Put fans where people will be hanging out a lot! Garlic Barrier™ is an effective spray. Look for it in businesses that carry organic gardening supplies.
Prevention - Ponds
Make a pond and stock it with mosquito-eating fish. The mosquitoes will lay their eggs there and the fish will make a meal of the larvae. A really good fish for this is the Gambusia or "Mosquito Fish." It is native and can be found in ditches and in other people's ponds. Goldfish are also recommended. Put in plants that will attract dragonflies, such as Horsetail, Pickerel Weed, Arrowhead, and Lizard Tail. Dragonflies eat mosquito larvae.
Note: Do not plant bogs that do not support fish if you don't want mosquitoes.
Biological Control
BTI - The bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis Israeliensis (BTI) can be applied to standing water where mosquitoes breed to kill the larvae. It is relatively safe and environmentally sound because it is highly selective. It does not harm fish or aquatic plants. Mosquito Dunks™ containing BTI can be found at businesses that carry organic gardening supplies.
BATS - Bats can catch 600 mosquitoes per hour! They need shelter, such as undisturbed wooded areas and drinking water from ponds or birdbaths. They are fond of all-night lights because they attract insects. They are generally harmless (less than 1% carry rabies).
See Habitat for Bats.
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