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How to Manage Pests

Mosquitoes

| More mosquito information |

Managing Mosquitoes on the Farm

Section 4: Three Basic Principles of Mosquito Prevention

Published 2005

Sections of this publication:

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  1. Why You Should Care About Mosquito Control
  2. West Nile Virus
  3. You May Be Raising the Mosquito That Is Biting You! Mosquito Prevention
  4. Three Basic Principles of Mosquito Prevention
  5. Natural Waters Associated With Farms
  6. Managing Stagnant Waters Created by Agricultural Activities
  7. Irrigated Fields for Upland Crops
  8. Mosquito-Free Irrigated Pastures
  9. Rice
  10. Dairy Operations
  11. Biological and Chemical Mosquito Control
  12. Common Mosquitoes and Their Life Cycles
  13. Acknowledgments
  14. For More Information

Section 4: Three Basic Principles of Mosquito Prevention
  • Prevent or eliminate any wastewater that stands for longer than 4 days. This includes water in ruts or unnecessary containers.
  • Keep weeds down around ponds, in ditches, and in shallow wetlands.
  • Irrigate properly so that all surface water is gone within 4 days.
  • Biological and chemical control of mosquitoes can supplement these essential preventative measures.

You can gain some personal protection by wearing long trousers, long sleeves, and using repellant. DEET-based repellants are very effective but it is important to follow the label directions to ensure safe and successful use. To protect the home, make sure that screens are intact and doors are kept closed. Minimize outdoor activity during dawn and dusk, the peak periods of mosquito biting.

The remainder of this publication gives advice for specific situations, discusses biological and chemical control of mosquitoes, and describes common mosquito species. Your local mosquito abatement district or mosquito and vector control district (MVCD) can also help you address specific problems. Consult them on which methods of supplemental control are most effective against the mosquitoes in your area.

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[UC Peer Reviewed]

Managing Mosquitoes on the Farm, UC ANR Publication 8158
Sharon P. Lawler and Gregory C. Lanzaro, Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis

Copyright © 2005 The Regents of the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. All rights reserved.

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
All contents copyright © 2017 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

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