Each summer, FIConservancy and Suffolk County Vector Control coordinate efforts to control mosquitoes with a non-toxic larvicide dispersal program. Homeowners can be the first line of defense, however, by eliminating mosquito-breeding sources near their own homes.
Remember: Mosquito eggs, invisible to the eye, can remain on the sides of containers, even after dumping the water. Be sure to scrub containers after dumping water to remove eggs.
- Check your yard at least weekly for standing water in containers. DUMP THE WATER and SCRUB CONTAINERS! Mosquitos need standing water to reproduce.
- Dispose of water-holding containers, such as old tarps, cans and buckets.
- Turn over or dump water from plastic kiddie pools, toys and wheelbarrows when not in use.
- Change water and clean birdbaths weekly.
- Make sure roof gutters drain properly; check and clean gutters on a regular basis.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and hot tubs.
- Drain water from pool covers
- Clean vegetation and debris from edges of backyard ponds; add fish and circulate the water.
- Keep shrubs and grass trimmed so adult mosquitos do not rest in your yard.
- Drill water drainage holes in bottom of garbage pails.
- Discard old tires, since tires are a major mosquito-breeding source.