Spring in Southern California is off to a wet and gloomy start, creating multiple sources for mosquitoes as soon as the sun starts shinning . This means finding and removing mosquito sources and containers with water should be at the top of your spring cleaning list. Mosquitoes can be a real threat to your community because they can transmit debilitating and sometimes fatal diseases like West Nile virus to humans. Keep mosquitoes out of your home and prevent mosquito bites with these tips.

Add Mosquito Sources to your Spring Cleaning Checklist

Keep mosquitoes from buzzing into spring by eliminating sources and standing water starting now. Download the Mosquito Source Checklist and identify common sources in your home. Tip and toss stagnant water weekly.

Download the Mosquito Source Checklist

Repel, Don’t Swell

Remember to wear insect repellent to protect your health. The CDC recommends using repellents with active ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. It’s extremely important to wear insect repellent when you travel abroad as well, especially when visiting sub-tropical and tropical regions.

Not all repellents are the same. Check out these repellent myths!

Start Your Own Spring-Cleaning Mosquito Crew

Mosquito Watch is a neighborhood program designed to protect our communities from mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases. With guidance from mosquito experts and your leadership, you can inspire your neighbors to act, and reduce mosquito breeding and disease transmission in your neighborhood. Contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at mosquitowatch@GLAmosquito.org. 

Don't be Fooled by Mosquito Imposters

During the Spring, you may start to see many flying bugs in the weeks following rainy events. Don't be fooled by these Mosquito Imposters. If you see “giant” mosquitoes flying around your home or are you getting “swarms” stuck to your window or door, these insects may not be mosquitoes. There are many insects in LA County that emerge at the same time as mosquitoes and some of them are harmless. Learn more about these insects that are commonly mistaken for mosquitoes on our Mosquito Imposters Page.

The good news - nearly all of the “mosquito imposters” have very short life spans. Give them time and they’ll be gone.