Understanding Mosquito Biology and Behavior
Only female mosquitoes bite—they need the protein from blood to produce eggs. Males feed on nectar. Females are attracted to carbon dioxide we exhale, body heat, and certain skin chemicals. They can detect CO2 from up to 50 feet away. After feeding, they lay eggs on or near water. Eggs can lie dormant for months in dry conditions, hatching when water covers them. This resilience makes complete eradication difficult, but consistent control is achievable. Knowing that mosquitoes rest in cool, shaded areas during the day helps target treatments to shrubs, under decks, and along fence lines.
Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM): The Professional Approach
IMM is a science-based strategy combining surveillance, source reduction, larviciding, and adulticiding. Professionals first inspect the property for breeding sites—often finding hidden sources like clogged gutters or low spots. They then apply larvicides to standing water to prevent emergence. Barrier sprays target adult resting sites, using formulations that break down quickly to minimize environmental impact. Finally, they educate homeowners on continued prevention. This multi-pronged approach reduces mosquito populations by 80-95% when followed consistently. Most seasonal plans include 4–8 visits timed to the local mosquito life cycle.
Health Risks: Beyond West Nile
While West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne illness in the continental US, other diseases pose risks. Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is rare but has a 30% fatality rate. Zika virus, though less prevalent since the 2016 outbreak, can cause severe birth defects. La Crosse encephalitis affects children in the Midwest and Appalachia. Travelers can also import dengue and chikungunya. Protecting your family isn't just about comfort—it's a health decision. The CDC recommends using EPA-registered repellents and eliminating standing water, especially for children and pregnant women.
Pets and Mosquito Control: What You Need to Know
Mosquitoes also bite pets, transmitting heartworm in dogs and cats. Heartworm is a serious, potentially fatal disease that's expensive to treat. Prevention includes monthly medication and, critically, reducing mosquito populations around your home. Professional treatments can be pet-safe when applied correctly—most products are allowed to dry before pets re-enter. Always inform your pest control company if you have pets, so they can choose appropriate products. Also, avoid using essential oil-based repellents on pets unless approved by a vet, as some are toxic.
Mosquito problems by the numbers
The statements below are tied to named surveys, studies and published cost guides, and each one says what it does and does not prove. They describe patterns across many households, which is useful context, not a diagnosis of any one property. Mosquito Squad's 2016 survey of U.S. homeowners, conducted by TNS Global with multiple answers permitted, found that 44% had cleared leaves, clippings and other lawn debris as a mosquito precaution; the provider-sponsored poll did not publish its sample size. In the 2016 Fight the Bite survey that TNS Global conducted for Mosquito Squad, 27% of U.S. homeowners reported walking their yards to look for mosquito harborage; respondents could pick several precautions, and the company-sponsored poll did not publish its sample size. Seventeen percent of U.S. homeowners in Mosquito Squad's 2016 Fight the Bite survey said they were somewhat likely to hire a professional mosquito service, an intention recorded by a provider-sponsored TNS Global poll with an undisclosed sample size. Forty-eight percent of U.S. homeowners in Mosquito Squad's 2016 Fight the Bite survey, a TNS Global poll sponsored by the mosquito-control company with an undisclosed sample size, said they had removed standing water from their property to cut down on mosquitoes. Forty-two percent of U.S. homeowners reported paying for professional pest control, according to Forbes Home's 2024 sentiment survey of 1,000 homeowners conducted online by OnePoll and Talker Research; the figure is self-reported and not a measure of spending. Use these numbers as context, not as a diagnosis. A provider's written inspection findings should drive the treatment plan, and any quote should spell out how many visits, which areas and what follow-up it covers.