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Property Maintenance Checklist
Backyard mosquito sources must be taken seriously. The mosquito produced in backyards is a principal vector of the West Nile Virus. Raising this mosquito in your own backyard is an unnecessary risk that can be eliminated; therefore, we have provided a comprehensive checklist of common backyard mosquito breeding sources.
- plugged roof gutters
- tires
- poorly maintained pools and spas
- bird baths
- pet water dishes
- landscape lighting
- wheelbarrows
- animal watering troughs
- uncovered boats
- flooded basements
- uncapped metal fence posts
- leaky swamp coolers
- uncovered dumpsters
- burn barrels
- hollowed out areas in trees
- ornamental ponds
- plant pots
- lawn sculptures or ornaments
- uncovered trash cans
- tarps holding water
- miscellaneous containers
Feel free to highlight and print out this list as a reminder. Let your neighbors know as well. Remember, mosquitoes don't discriminate; mosquitoes produced next door will take your blood as willingly as anyone else's.
Any of the above water sources can become ideal breeding micro-habitats, producing thousands of mosquitoes, including sources that produce mosquitoes capable of transmitting the West Nile Virus. Check your yard for these sources regularly and especially after rains and irrigation. Dump or flush out water regularly, introduce mosquitofish or consider purchasing a larvacide product when other methods won't stop mosquito larvae production. Most home-use larvacide products are harmless to the environment and will not hurt people, pets or wildlife when they are used in accordance with the label directions. You are likely to find these products at hardware, home-improvement, garden, pond and some pet stores.
- There are three types of home-use larvacides readily available for mosquito larvae control:
- Larvacides containing the active ingredient, methoprene are sold under the brand names Altosid, Prestrike and Zodiac.
- Bacillus sphaericus is a second type of larvacide you may be able to purchase. This larvacide is sold under the brand names; Vectolex and Mosquito Bits.
- A third type is called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. This larvacide is sold under the brand names Vectobac and Mosquito Dunks.
Please thoroughly read product labels before purchase to determine the suitability of the product. Follow all label directions for use. This information is provided as a public service and should not be considered an endorsement of the products or any of the retailers listed. Sutter Yuba Mosquito and Vector Control District makes no guarantee regarding prices or availability of products listed.
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