Community Mosquito Control 149
Community Mosquito Control
Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water. It takes about 7 days for mosquito eggs
to hatch. By getting rid of standing water once a week, or by making water
move and flow, mosquito breeding is interrupted and they do not live to spread
diseases. To prevent mosquitoes from breeding:
• Get rid of places where water collects (standing water) such as old car
tires, flower pots, oil drums, ditches, uncovered water storage containers,
and any standing water inside the house.
• Manage land in ways that prevent water from collecting so the water
will instead soak into the ground.
• Make sure watersheds are protected so that water will keep flowing (see
Chapter 9).
Remove mosquito breeding sites around the house and community:
Clear drainage ditches so
water can flow through.
Keep water containers covered.
Use screens on
windows and doors.
Make sure there is proper drainage
around community wells and water taps.
Clear away old cans, tires,
or broken pots that collect
water, and fill any pits.
Biological controls, such as a bacteria called BTi, are used in some
places to kill young mosquitoes without harming the environment.
(For more information about BTi, see Resources.)
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012