- 1). Look for areas of standing water in your yard, including pool covers, roof gutters, storm drains, puddles, toys such as wagons, kiddie pools, wheelbarrows, trash cans, tires, evaporative coolers and anywhere more than a tablespoon of water can sit. Dump the water, change it, or treat it with one cap of bleach per 5 gallons of water. If you have a birdbath, change the water every other day.
- 2). Address stagnant water in neighborhood parks, neighbors' yards and public roads and ditches. Many cities treat their ditches and ponds but many don't. Typically you don't have to worry about ponds and lakes with healthy fish populations, but rather algae- and weed-infested sloughs. De-weeding ponds and stocking with fish can go a long way toward limiting the mosquito threat, given that adult mosquitoes can travel nearly two miles from the site where they hatched.
- 3). Check that window screens fit snugly into the window frame and replace screens with holes with new screen at least 16 mesh per inch. Screen or close attic vents as well. Keep doors and windows closed whenever feasible, especially from dusk to dawn. Burn large citronella candles on the sills to deter pests from approaching.
- 4). Reduce your outdoor lighting to minimize the attraction of adult mosquitoes or replace traditional white lights with yellow ones, the University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension recommends. Keep porch lights off when not needed.
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