Mosquito control: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What mosquito control is

Mosquito control reduces mosquitoes by finding and eliminating standing water, treating yard foliage or breeding sites and advising on prevention. People hire it when mosquitoes make the yard hard to use in the evening, when standing water collects after storms, or when they want a plan to cut back on bites across the season.

Signs you need it

  • Mosquitoes swarm the yard in the evening or in the shade, even when the rest of the area is dry
  • Standing water collects in gutters, planters, buckets, tarps, pet dishes or low spots in the lawn
  • Mosquitoes breed in an old pond, a clogged birdbath, a rain barrel or a pool cover that holds water
  • Dense shrubs and tall grass create cool, damp resting spots where mosquitoes hide during the day
  • You want the yard usable for gatherings and the bites keep spoiling the time outside

What the pro does

  • The technician walks the yard and the property to find standing water, breeding sites and resting spots in shrubs and grass
  • Standing water is emptied, drained or treated where it cannot be removed, such as ponds and ornamental water features
  • Foliage in shady, damp areas is treated with a product labeled for mosquitoes, applied according to the label
  • Larvicide is placed in water that cannot be drained, such as ponds or rain barrels, using products labeled for that use
  • The technician explains the prevention steps, such as clearing debris and changing water weekly, and sets a schedule for return treatments

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Size of the yard and the amount of shaded, vegetated area to be treated
  • Number of breeding sites, such as ponds, birdbaths, gutters and water features
  • Density of shrubs, trees and tall grass where mosquitoes rest
  • Whether a treatment is one-time or a seasonal program with repeat visits
  • Access to shaded areas and the parts of the yard behind fences or under decks
  • Whether pond or water feature treatment is included or handled separately
  • Whether the program includes a homeowner plan for standing water and debris

What a written quote should spell out

  • The areas treated, such as shaded foliage, shrub beds and water features
  • The breeding sites found, and whether each one was drained, emptied or treated
  • The products used by name and the label-based application method
  • The schedule for repeat treatments across the season
  • The prevention steps the homeowner must take, with the items named
  • Any products that are not safe for ponds or fish, and how they were handled

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Which products do you use on the yard, and are they labeled for mosquitoes and safe around pets and children?
  • How long should we stay off the treated areas, and when can the dog go back on the grass?
  • Are my fish or plants in the pond at risk, and how do you treat around them?
  • What standing water do you find, and what can I do to remove it?
  • How often will you come back, and how long does each treatment last?
  • Do you treat the shrubs and the grass, or only the water?
  • Are you licensed for the products you apply?

Red flags

  • They promise mosquito-free yards for the whole season after one visit
  • They spray the whole yard with no plan for the standing water that breeds the mosquitoes
  • They treat a pond or water feature with a product that is not labeled for use in water
  • They do not say how long to stay off treated areas
  • They will not name the products or show the labels

What you can do yourself

A homeowner can empty or turn over buckets, clear gutters, change pet and birdbath water every few days and remove clutter where water collects. Use products labeled for mosquitoes, and follow the label for use near ponds, pets and food gardens. Call a licensed pest control operator for treatment of foliage, larger water features and for areas where mosquitoes are a public health concern in your area.

Licenses and permits

Mosquito treatment with pesticides for pay is commonly licensed in many areas, and treatment of water bodies may have separate rules. Check with your state or local licensing agency before you hire, and ask whether the operator holds the license that covers the products used.

Mosquito control questions

Are mosquito treatments safe for pets and kids?

It depends on the product and how it is used. Ask the operator for the labels, follow the wait times on each one, and keep children and pets off treated areas until the label allows.

Will mosquito treatment hurt the bees and butterflies?

Some mosquito products can affect other insects, so ask the operator which products they use and when they apply them. Ask about timing that avoids flowering plants when pollinators are active.

Why do mosquitoes come back so fast?

Mosquitoes can come from standing water on your property or a neighbor's, and treatment does not last forever. Empty the containers, treat the water that cannot be drained, and plan repeat visits through the season.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See screened pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More pest control guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request mosquito control