Are Mosquitoes Attracted To Water In Your Yard? (And What Can You Do To Prevent It)

Summer is a fabulous time for many of us and we anticipate this time for various reasons. However, if your yard is poorly maintained, it can become a perfect breeding place for mosquitoes. I’m sure you already know that these insects not only bite but also transmit diseases.

Fortunately, you can fight back! Although mosquitoes live and reproduce in certain places like shady areas, some factors can increase how many mosquitoes you’ll have.

And the number one factor is having stagnant water in or around the yard. Mosquitoes lay eggs in shallow, stagnant water, which means that they can use anything containing water like a bucket of water or plant pot, or unclean pool water as a breeding ground.

So without a doubt, having standing water near your home can increase your chances of mosquito infestation.

Also, bear in mind that these insects don’t need to use the stagnant water for a long time to start laying eggs. It’s why you should always inspect your yard and other house exterior features.

In short, throw away small containers that hold rainwater, clean pools regularly, and think of investing in a fountain that circulates water.

 

All species of mosquitoes love water. That’s because they lay their eggs, grow and develop into adulthood in water. However, mosquitoes prefer stagnant or still water compared to moving water.

Note that these insects’ lifecycle comprises of four stages, that is, egg, larva, pupa, and adult. When they lay their eggs in or near stagnant water, they hatch into a larva, which lives in water, until it becomes a pupa, which becomes an adult mosquito.

Remember that although this lifecycle is short which can take even a week, moving water doesn’t give these pests enough time to complete the process.

 

We should now talk about the different water types and the types of mosquitoes they attract.

Not all kinds of water produce mosquitoes. Water that stands on the surface for at least 5 or 6 days, is less than 2 feet deep, and slow-flowing or stagnant is likely to produce mosquitoes.

Water that is 6 inches deep and contains emergent vegetation is a particularly productive mosquito habitat. Mosquito larvae will not develop in deep and open water that’s exposed to wave action or in streams and waterfalls where water flows rapidly.

Ponds having abundant emergent vegetation and still water or water with just a little fluctuation in levels produce several Aedes species. This mosquito species is a serious biting nuisance and transmitter of potentially deadly diseases to humans and animals.

In essence, mosquito breeding sites are classed as temporary, permanent, and semi-permanent.

Temporary breeding places remain for just a limited period of time, such as a flood, while permanent water remains throughout the year.

Permanent or semi-permanent water bodies attract mosquitoes on an ongoing basis. It could be clean water or nutrient-rich water sources. These bodies include lakes, ponds, swamps, marshes, or containers that hold water.

There are also floodwater mosquitoes that live in containers above the waterline or moist soil. The larvae of some species usually develop when the rain floods in the container or soil.

These water sources include river banks, streams, temporary pools, ponds, watering troughs, containers that fill up with rainwater, tree holes that collect water, etc.

 

 

 

• Places With Standing Water

Typical yards are filled with several sources of standing water so it can be difficult to get rid of all of them.

However, some common sources that you should be aware of include old tires, buckets, sprinklers, trashcan lids, discarded cups, grill covers, flower pots, rain barrels, and run-off. To fix these sources just drill holes in the bottom so that they can drain water whenever it rains.

 

• Yard Cavities

Uneven spots can hold stagnant water, which is why you need to fill any holes and also provide drainage to keep mosquitoes away. Small swimming pools are also habitats for mosquitoes. So make sure that you cover them when not in use.

 

• Yard Debris

Mosquitoes hate wind. And often, they will take refuge in the yard debris or rubbish scattered around the yard.

This is why homeowners should not allow piles of branches and stick bundles to stay in their yard since mosquitoes can make these areas their habitat.

Also, avoid keeping the grass too tall as it shelters the mosquitoes from the wind. Other yard debris that can easily attract mosquitoes include compost piles, grass clippings, raked leaves, and thick vegetation.

 

Water features like fountains and decorative ponds can lead to mosquito infestation on your property.

Note that naturally, these insects live and lay eggs in water, so this means that water will always attract mosquitoes.

 

However, you can follow some precautions when building a water feature in your yard to keep mosquitoes at bay:

⇾ Whether you want to install a pond, fountain, waterfall, or any other water feature, ensure that it is more than 2 feet deep.

⇾ Also, opt for steep walls as they don’t provide an ideal condition for the larvae to hatch.

⇾ And make sure that the water is always circulating since running water hinders mosquitoes from laying their eggs in it.

⇾ Drain or fill all features of stagnant water. Where water features cannot be drained or oiled, stock them with fish.

⇾ Additionally, keep the water surface clean, free from vegetation and floating debris. Otherwise, these can provide mosquitoes with protection from wind and other predators as well as food.

 

 

As I’ve already mentioned, mosquitoes are attracted to water. Thus, they might be attracted to swimming pools as well.

However, the water must be stagnant for these insects to lay eggs. But since water is mostly moving in regularly maintained pools, those pesky mosquitoes might not be able to survive in them.

But still, you should take some preventive measures, including:

⇾ Turning your pool pump from time to time

⇾ Enclosing the space

⇾ Trimming bushes, grass, and trees around the pool

⇾ Checking your pool cover regularly to ensure that it hasn’t collected water or attracted mosquitoes

⇾ Installing bug misters to prevent mosquitoes from entering your pool

 

The best way to prevent mosquito infestation is by making your yard and home inhospitable to these insects. Here are some steps to follow:

 

• Get Rid Of Stagnant Water

Do your best not to leave stagnant water on your property, as even the tiniest standing water can attract mosquitoes. So, regularly inspect birdbaths, flowerpots, gutters and drainage, and paddles in your yard.

If you have a birdbath in your backyard, change its water once every 3 days. It is also suggested to add lavender to a birdbath each time you refill it as this will help combat the mosquito population.

In addition, leaks in pipelines and standpipes may cause stagnant water. Thus, make sure to keep them in good repair.

 

• Replace Fresh Water Regularly

Eliminating all standing water in the yard is impossible.

However, always ensure that the water sources are filled with fresh water. That means emptying these sources at least once every other day and refilling them.

Remember that mosquitoes tend to hatch within 48 hours. So constantly changing water will make it hard for them to breed.

 

• Maintain Your Pool

Keep your swimming pool, kiddie pool, or jacuzzi water chlorinated. Also, ensure that you replace water filters.

Additionally, if you have water features, make sure that you also inspect them regularly. You can try spreading eco-friendly botanical products like BTi that kill the larvae before it reaches adulthood.

 

If you are also interested in how you can makeover your backyard to keep mosquitoes away, please check out my other article here.

 

To Conclude,

Proper water management and maintenance in the yard are highly important in preventing these annoying and harmful insects from infesting your home.

Make time to clean, empty, or drain areas and places containing standing water so that they are not conducive to mosquito larvae.

Mosquitoes are capable of breeding wherever there are even only a few drops of water. So if they have nowhere to stay near your home, you won’t have to deal with an infestation!