Common Mosquitoes in AZ

Of the 176 species of mosquitoes in the United States, the following are found in Arizona: 

• Inland Floodwater Mosquito
• Asian Tiger Mosquito
• Western Encephalitis Mosquito
• Southern House Mosquito
• Dark Rice Field Mosquito
• Yellow Fever Mosquito
• Western Malaria Mosquito

Are Mosquitoes Harmful?

Most of us are familiar with the annoying itch caused by a mosquito bite. But in some cases, these bites are responsible for spreading deadly diseases, such as the West Nile virus, the Zika virus, malaria, and St. Louis Encephalitis. That’s all the more reason to keep these little pests at bay.

What’s Attracting Mosquitoes Around Your Home?

• Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water. Anything with even a small amount of standing water like tires, buckets, and birdbaths, provides the right breeding habitat for mosquitoes. 
• Mosquitoes seek shelter wherever they can find it. Yard debris makes a good hiding spot for them. They rest underneath piles of leaves and grass clippings, and in standing grass and shrubs.
• Water features and irrigation leaks are a mosquito’s dream. Not only do they provide standing water, but they provide a place where mosquitoes can lay their eggs and larvae can develop.

Ways to Fight the Scourge of Mosquitoes

• Dump all standing water and prevent it from pooling again by keeping garbage cans tightly sealed, unclogging gutters, and other measures. 
• Maintain pools and water features.
• Repair dripping outdoor faucets or irrigation leaks.
• Keep grasses cut and shrubs trimmed. 
• Clear debris, especially wet vegetation.
• Schedule integrated pest management with an exterminator

DIY Mosquito Control

Sitting water is a hotspot for mosquito breeding sites. If you can locate the water source attracting the mosquitoes, the first step is to disturb it by dumping the water out or draining it. If the site is an enclosed space like a flower pot, you can fill the holes with sand or gravel to keep future infestations from occurring.

For sites where eliminating the water source isn’t an option, you can use an approved insecticide such as Methoprene or Bacillus thuringiensis israeliensis(Bti). Backyard foggers can also offer temporary protection from mosquitoes and work great before outdoor events. Residual insecticide sprays stay on surfaces for up to a month and can reach infestations in thicker foliage.

You can also find store-bought remedies like mosquito traps that use a scent-based attractant, bug zappers, and attract-and-kill sprays that use a mixture of sugar water and toxicant for extermination. Another more controversial option is installing a timed backyard mister system to release insecticide mist or fog throughout the yard. The use of this kind of mosquito control can harm the natural ecosystem and beneficial bugs.

Serving Our Community and Beyond

In many parts of the world, not everyone can afford integrated pest management. That’s why we at Insectek donate a portion of our profits to Malaria No More (MNM), a nonprofit organization that aims to protect people from potentially deadly malaria.