Tips on Living with Some of Summer’s Least Wanted Guests
Mosquitoes are a familiar part of life in the Credit River watershed. While their activity generally decreases as temperatures cool, mosquitoes can remain active into the fall, particularly during warmer periods.
These tiny insects are an important part of our ecosystems, but they can also be a nuisance and some species can transmit diseases such as West Nile virus. Understanding where mosquitoes breed and how they behave can help us reduce mosquito populations around our homes, protect ourselves from bites and live alongside the wildlife that shares our watershed.
Mosquito Basics
Mosquitoes are a type of fly. Like all flies, they have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Mosquitoes always lay their eggs in or around water, and mosquito larvae develop in the water. Most mosquitoes can develop from egg to adult in 7 to 10 days.
Both male and female mosquitoes feed primarily on plant nectar for energy. Female mosquitoes of many species also take blood meals, which provide proteins and other nutrients needed for egg development.
There are over 60 species of mosquitoes in Ontario, but most of those don’t bite humans. Instead, they feed on other mammals and birds, and even some reptiles and amphibians.
Reducing Mosquitoes Around Your Home
First: Reduce Mosquito Breeding Habitat
The most effective way of dealing with mosquitoes is to prevent them from building up their populations in the first place. This means addressing places on your property where they might lay eggs – like old tires, kid’s pools, watering cans, and other places where water can collect and become stagnant.
Consider drilling holes in the bottom to allow water to drain or storing items upside down. If you have a pond, aerators and other methods that move water around can prevent mosquito breeding. Refresh birdbaths regularly and scrub them as needed to help prevent mosquito larvae from developing.
Next: Reduce Your Exposure
The next best thing to do is to reduce your chances of being bitten by a mosquito. Adults are most active at dusk and dawn, so those are the times it is most important to take steps to avoid exposure.
This could mean limiting your time outside during those periods. When you are outside, wearing light coloured clothing, long sleeves and pants with socks can protect you from bites. Setting up a fan in your outdoor space can also help – mosquitoes are weak fliers, and a high-powered fan will stop them from landing. Using personal insect repellents, following the latest directions from Health Canada, is also a tried-and-true defence against mosquitoes.
Last: Consider Pesticides Carefully
Pesticides can be an important tool in some circumstances, including targeted mosquito-control programs undertaken by public health agencies. However, pesticides can also affect non-target organisms, so they should be used carefully and only when appropriate.
Many mosquito-control products use pyrethrins or synthetic pyrethroids, which can affect mosquitoes as well as other insects and aquatic organisms. Given the potential impacts on non-target species, broad-spectrum pesticide sprays should not be the first approach to managing mosquitoes around your home.
CVC does not use pesticide sprays to manage mosquitoes or other biting insects on our properties. We also do not recommend the use of broad-spectrum pesticide sprays on private properties to manage mosquitoes or other biting insects as a first approach.
If you are considering a pesticide product, make sure it is registered for its intended use and follow all label directions carefully.
Be Skeptical of Mosquito-control Products
Our obsession with mosquitoes means that there are many products out there that claim to prevent bites. Evidence of their effectiveness varies, and products should not be assumed to provide reliable protection simply because they are marketed for mosquito control. This includes mosquito plants, garlic sprays, bug zappers, citronella candles, noise emitters, pills, and stickers.
For personal protection, look for insect repellents registered by Health Canada and follow the directions on the label.
Keep the Bigger Picture in Mind
Mosquitoes and other biting flies are important parts of our biodiversity. Their larvae provide food for dragonflies and other insects, as well as fish, amphibians, and birds. Adult mosquitoes are also eaten by birds, bats, dragonflies and other predators. Some mosquitoes visit flowers and can contribute to pollination.
Mosquitoes aren’t only a nuisance. Some species can transmit diseases, including West Nile virus. Follow guidance from your local public health unit when mosquito-borne disease risks are elevated.
We may never learn to love mosquitoes, but by following the steps above, we can learn to live with them more comfortably while supporting the wildlife and ecosystems that make the Credit River watershed so special.
Learn More About the Watershed
Want to learn more about the wildlife and ecosystems in the Credit River watershed? Explore CVC’s conservation resources on our Nature and Wildlife and Ways to Green Your Property webpages to discover more ways you can help protect the watershed in your own backyard.
Support for conservation also helps make this work possible. To learn more about how you can support conservation across the Credit River watershed, visit the Credit Valley Conservation Foundation.
By Laura Timms, Program Manager, Natural Heritage Management