In South Florida, mosquito season lines up with the rainy season. From roughly June through October, afternoon storms leave standing water everywhere, and in warm weather a mosquito can go from egg to biting adult in about a week.
Here is where they come from, which ones are biting you, and what actually brings the numbers down.
Which mosquitoes are biting you
- Aedes aegypti (the yellow fever mosquito) is the main backyard pest in Miami and Broward. It is small and black with white markings, bites during the day, and breeds in small containers of water close to homes.
- Aedes albopictus (the Asian tiger mosquito) behaves similarly and is also a daytime biter.
- Culex mosquitoes are more active at dusk and night and often breed in water with organic debris, like clogged gutters and storm drains.
Aedes aegypti matters most because it can carry diseases such as dengue, which has been acquired locally in South Florida in recent years. Most bites are just a nuisance, but cutting down breeding sites protects your household and your neighbors.
Where they breed in a typical South Florida yard
Aedes mosquitoes don’t need a pond. A bottle cap of water is enough. Check for:
- Plant saucers, pots and planters
- Bromeliads, which hold water in their leaves
- Clogged gutters and downspout extensions
- Buckets, toys, wheelbarrows, tarps and boat or grill covers
- Pet bowls and birdbaths that aren’t changed often
- Unused pools, hot tubs and fountains
- Tree holes and low spots that hold water after rain
The weekly habit that makes the biggest difference
Once a week, especially after heavy rain, tip and toss: empty anything holding water, scrub saucers and birdbaths, and turn over containers you don’t need. Flush bromeliads with a hose or treat them. Because the life cycle can be about a week in summer heat, weekly is the schedule that breaks it.
What a professional mosquito treatment does
- Barrier treatment of resting areas: adult mosquitoes rest in shaded, humid spots during the day, under leaves, in hedges and dense shrubs, and under decks. Treating those surfaces reduces the adults living in your yard.
- Larval control: water that can’t be dumped, such as drains or decorative features, can be treated to stop larvae from becoming adults.
- Source reduction: a technician walks the property and points out breeding sites you might miss.
Treatments are usually repeated through the rainy season, because new mosquitoes keep arriving from surrounding areas. They work best combined with the weekly habit above.
What doesn’t work very well
- Bug zappers kill lots of insects but not many of the mosquitoes that bite you.
- Citronella candles help only in a small area, and only while the air is still.
- One-time sprays before a party help for a short time but don’t change breeding in the yard.
Protecting yourself
Use an EPA-registered repellent on exposed skin, wear lighter clothing that covers your arms and legs when you’re outside for long periods, and keep screens on windows and doors in good repair. Miami-Dade and Broward also run county mosquito control programs you can contact about neighborhood problems.
Frequently asked questions
When is mosquito season in South Florida?
Mosquitoes are around year-round, but they peak during the rainy season, roughly June through October, when standing water is everywhere.
Why do I get bitten during the day?
The main backyard mosquitoes in Miami and Broward, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, bite during the day, unlike many mosquitoes that bite mainly at dusk.
How often should my yard be treated?
During the rainy season most yards benefit from recurring treatments, typically every few weeks, combined with weekly removal of standing water.
Are mosquito treatments safe for pets?
Treatments are applied to targeted resting areas, and we tell you how long to keep pets and children off treated surfaces, usually until they are dry.
Ready to take your yard back? See our mosquito control service or call (954) 231-5900. We serve Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines and the rest of South Florida.
