Where Mosquitos Can Flourish

In Florida, mosquito larvae, the immature stage of mosquitoes, develop in standing water, including buckets, tires, and birdbaths, and also in natural habitats like tree holes and bromeliad leaf axils. Mosquito larvae are commonly found in various water-holding objects around homes and yards including: bird baths, flower vases, toys, refrigerator drain pans, and barrels. In natural habitats, their larvae may develop in: salt marshes, ditches, grassy pools, furrows of citrus groves, pasture areas, catch basins, and dairy lagoons.

How to Reduce Mosquitoes Around the Home

Source reduction is the most important technique that homeowners can employ to reduce mosquitoes in and around their homes. Since mosquitoes need water to survive, removing water sources around the home goes a long way to prevent mosquitoes from developing. If water collects in discarded cans, bottles, and buckets, it is best to properly dispose of water-holding containers or empty the water from the containers as soon as possible. 

In Florida, it is best to flush out containers, such as bird baths and bromeliad plants, every 3-4 days during the summer months. Other practices may include, cleaning up vegetation that has fallen from trees, removing used tires from the property, disposing of old appliances that are located outdoors, cleaning of roof gutters to remove leaves that may clog the drain and cause water to be retained, and checking for standing water in the yard. Water gardens and ornamental ponds are popular, but aerate them or stock with fish to reduce mosquito populations. Fans can be used to keep mosquitoes away. Mosquitoes are weak flyers and operating a fan on high will help keep flying mosquitoes out of the area.

How Mangroves Can Help Reduce Mosquitos

Mosquitoes are eaten by other organisms (predators) as a food source. While there are no organisms that are known to feed exclusively on mosquitoes, many animals will feed on them. Many fish, small crustaceans, dragonfly and damselfly nymphs, and frogs will eat mosquito larvae. Frogs, dragonfly and damselfly adults, birds, and bats will also eat adult mosquitoes. The addition of native vegetation and mangrove habitats will help provide additional habitat for the organisms and wildlife that eat mosquito adults and larvae.