The short version
Around New Orleans, mosquito season runs from about March into November. Treatment means removing water and treating what you can't drain. A barrier spray follows every few weeks.
- Dump standing water every week.
- Daytime biters are usually tiger mosquitoes.
- Barrier sprays last about three to four weeks.
- Larvicide handles water you can’t drain.
- Use repellent with DEET, picaridin or IR3535.
Anyone in New Orleans tired of mosquito bites at home.
What to look for
In summer heat, eggs become biting adults in about a week. Often the source is a neighbor's yard or a storm drain. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, even a bottle cap's worth.
- 1Rain barrels without screens or lids.
- 2Whining near your ears at night indoors.
- 3Swarms rising from shrubs when you brush past.
- 4Dogs testing positive for heartworm.
- 5Bites within minutes of stepping outside at dusk.
- 6Welts on ankles and calves after yardwork.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Each new generation is bigger than the last.
- Bites can spread West Nile virus.
- Itchy welts, especially for kids.
- Heartworm risk for dogs.
38 (0.83 per 100,000)West Nile neuroinvasive cases in Louisiana, 2024CDC MMWR 1,808 cases, 173 deathsNational West Nile cases and deaths, 2024CDC MMWR Up to 8 monthsAedes egg survival while dryCDC 📅
Mosquito activity through the year in New Orleans
Spring
the first wave arrives early in New Orleans. Start treatments then.
Summer
with highs near 91°F in New Orleans, check water twice a week.
Fall
numbers stay high. Keep gutters clear of leaves.
Winter
a good time to fix drainage and low spots.
Treatment options and typical costs
Property Inspection for Breeding Sites
$0–$150 (often bundled with a first treatment)
Most mosquitoes biting you in New Orleans were born within a few hundred feet of your door, so the inspection maps every container, drain, and puddle on the lot. That map becomes the treatment plan.
- Time
- 30–60 minutes
- Best for
- Every yard; finds where mosquitoes actually breed
Source Reduction and Larviciding
$75–$150 per visit
This visit often doubles as homeowner coaching, since most breeding sites on a New Orleans lot can be eliminated by hand. A pro points them out so they stay gone.
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Best for
- Yards with standing water, clogged gutters, ponds, or drains
Misting Systems and In2Care-Style Stations
misting $2,000–$4,500 installed plus refills; stations $200–$500 per season
Expect a site walk before any install. Nozzle and station placement depend on the lot. Ask for the refill and service costs up front.
- Time
- Misting: half a day. Stations: under an hour.
- Best for
- Specific yards: heavy outdoor use or spray-averse owners
Barrier (Residual) Yard Treatment
$75–$200 per visit; $350–$900 per season
Relief usually shows within a day or two.
- Time
- 20–45 minutes per visit, repeated every 3–4 weeks
- Best for
- Shaded yards with shrubs, ivy, and dense landscaping
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Adult mosquitoes spend the day in shady, leafy beds like this one, so that's where a barrier treatment goes.How mosquito treatment works in New Orleans.
For New Orleans homes, the season runs from about March into November, so a plan usually starts in spring and runs to the end of the season. Larvicide handles water you can't drain, like ponds or drains. Barrier spray covers shady shrubs and leaves. Treatment has two parts. First, find and remove the water where they breed. Then spray where the adults rest.
Which mosquitoes bite around New Orleans.
They also bite by day, often near or inside homes. House mosquitoes (Culex) bite from dusk into the night. They breed in storm drains. They're the main West Nile carriers. Asian tiger mosquitoes are common around New Orleans. They're black-and-white and bite by day. They breed in small containers. Yellow fever mosquitoes live around New Orleans too.
Mosquitoes that bite indoors usually slip in through gaps around doors or torn window screens.Mosquito season in New Orleans.
Plan on regular visits. That's a long season. West Nile cases usually peak in late summer.
A year of mosquitoes in New Orleans.
- Fall: numbers stay high. Keep gutters clear of leaves. - Summer: with highs near 91°F in New Orleans, check water twice a week. - Spring: the first wave arrives early in New Orleans. Start treatments then. - Winter: a good time to fix drainage and low spots.
The weekly water walk.
- Saucers and pots: empty them or add sand. - Toys and buckets: store them upside down. - Tarps and covers: pull them tight so water runs off. - Birdbaths: change the water twice a week. - Pet bowls: refresh daily. - AC drip lines and downspouts: make sure water drains away. - Tree holes: fill them with sand. - Gutters: clear leaves so water drains.
Avoiding bites.
- Clothing: long sleeves and pants help at dusk. - Fans: a patio fan keeps weak-flying mosquitoes away. - Screens: repair holes in window and door screens. - Timing: tiger mosquitoes bite by day; house mosquitoes at dusk. - Repellent: DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Low-cost ways to cut mosquitoes.
- Mosquito fish: they eat larvae in ornamental ponds. - Pumps and fountains: moving water breeds far fewer mosquitoes. - Trimming: thin out dense shrubs and tall grass. - Lights: yellow bug lights attract fewer insects to the porch. - Mosquito dunks: Bti tablets kill larvae in rain barrels and ponds.
Mosquito or look-alike?
- Non-biting midges: swarm near water at dusk. Harmless, just annoying. - No-see-ums: tiny biting gnats near marshes. Screens need a finer mesh. - Mosquitoes: slim, long legs, and a needle-like mouth. - Crane flies: look like giant mosquitoes. They don’t bite.
When a bite needs a doctor.
About one in five get a fever, headache or body aches. Most people infected with West Nile virus never feel sick. Most bites just itch for a few days. Spreading swelling or an infected-looking bite needs a check too. See a doctor for high fever, stiff neck or confusion.
Protecting your pets.
Ask your vet about year-round heartworm prevention. Cats can too. Dogs get heartworm from mosquito bites. Keep pets inside while a yard spray dries. Change pet water bowls daily.
What a treatment visit looks like.
They dump or treat standing water. The tech walks the yard first. A visit usually takes 20 to 45 minutes. Most plans repeat every three to four weeks. Then they spray shady shrubs, where adults rest. Larvicide goes in water you can't drain.
Rain barrels and ponds.
- Ponds: fish and moving water keep larvae down. - Bird baths: change the water every few days. - Gutters: clear them so water drains away. - Tarps: shake out any that hold rainwater. - Pool covers: drain standing water after rain. - Barrels: cover openings with fine mesh.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- How often will you come? - Do you treat standing water too? - What happens if bites come back between visits? - How do you protect bees and flowers? - When can kids and pets go back outside? - What product will you spray?
What affects the price
- Commercial or multi-unit property.
- Amount of shade and dense vegetation.
- In2Care-style station count and servicing.
- Ponds, creeks, or wetland edges on the property.
- Gutter cleaning or drainage fixes bundled in.
- Re-treatment policy between scheduled visits.
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What's your biggest concern about mosquitoes?
When to call for help
Call if bites still keep you indoors. Dumping water should come first. early in the season, before the first big wave. Ponds, drains and dense shrubs are hard to handle yourself.
What you can do yourself
They also spray where adults rest, every few weeks. A pro adds larvicide for water you can't drain. Use repellent and run a fan on the patio. The biggest win is free: dump standing water every week.
Mosquitoes in New Orleans
A local provider who knows New Orleans and Louisiana can point out the specific conditions that matter most here before you commit to a plan. For New Orleans homes, take a minute to note where you have seen activity and when it appears, so the inspection is faster and the quote more accurate. For New Orleans homes, most of the housing is urban, so the usual entry points, moisture spots, and sheltered areas near the structure are what an inspection checks first. New Orleans has a humid subtropical climate, and mosquitoes activity here tends to pick up late spring through early fall; year-round in the deep south. In denser parts of New Orleans, storm drains, catch basins and gutters are big breeding spots. Summer highs around 91°F in New Orleans speed up the life cycle, and average humidity near 77% keeps adults active. New Orleans gets about 64 inches of rain a year, so containers and low spots refill constantly through the season.
Local research
Mosquitoes in New Orleans, LA: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which mosquitoes actually live in Louisiana, when they are busiest around New Orleans, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
West Nile neuroinvasive disease cases, 2024
Neuroinvasive counts are the most reliable state comparison because nearly all severe cases are diagnosed and reported.
CDCWhen mosquitoes are busiest around New Orleans
Long season; Texas DSHS notes mosquitoes remain active into November and December in much of Texas. CDC WNV season is June–October with a late-August/early-September peak.
For context, nationally
- 1,808 — West Nile virus disease cases reported, 2024. CDC
- 1,347 (75% of cases); 173 deaths — West Nile neuroinvasive disease cases, 2024. CDC
Sources: CDC. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep mosquitoes away
- Turn over saucers, buckets, and wheelbarrows once a week rather than after a storm, since 64 inches of rain arrives on no schedule.
- Scrub container walls with a brush, because rinsing leaves the glued eggs in place.
- Keep courtyard and alley drains clear of leaves so water moves instead of standing.
- Screen or dose any cistern or rain catchment before the summer rains begin.
- Cut back dense low planting along fences so adults have less shaded daytime cover.
- Rehang and patch old window screens ahead of a season that runs toward December.
- Keep a pool chlorinated year round, since 45F winter lows never stall breeding for long.
Jot down where you found standing water and when you get bitten. It gives a pro a head start.Did you know?
Larvae are called wrigglers; pupae are tumblers
Only females bite; males sip nectar
Questions people ask
When should mosquito treatments start each year?
Before the first big wave. Around New Orleans, the season runs from about March into November, so start a few weeks before.
What is the difference between larvicide and barrier spray?
Most plans use both. Barrier spray goes on leaves where adults rest. It stops larvae from maturing.
What are In2Care stations and do they work?
They work best against container breeders like tiger mosquitoes. Mosquitoes visit, then carry larvicide to other water. They're small water traps.
Will mosquito treatment kill bees and butterflies?
Spraying when bees rest helps too. Ask them to skip blooming plants. It can if spray hits flowers.
What does a mosquito inspection involve?
Gutters, saucers, tarps and low spots get checked first. They also check shady spots where adults rest. The tech walks the yard looking for standing water.
When is mosquito season in New Orleans?
It runs from about March into November. Daytime biters are tiger mosquitoes; evening biters are usually house mosquitoes.
Do mosquitoes in New Orleans carry West Nile?
Repellent and dumping standing water are your best protection. Cases usually peak in late summer. West Nile is found in every lower-48 state, Louisiana included. They can.
Nearby cities
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Sources (16)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Mosquito Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides