It Takes a Community to Fight the Bite of Mosquitoes

Eliminating Standing Water Where Biters Can Breed is Key

They’re annoying, their bites are itchy and they can spread disease, including the Zika virus. Summer means mosquito season.  And if you see mosquitoes near your home, it means they’re likely your neighbors.

Mosquitoes travel up to 300 feet from where they breed. The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Mosquito Control program recommends a communitywide effort to reduce mosquito breeding areas. Eliminating standing water in and around your home is key. Mosquitoes need water to stand for at least five days in order to breed, but a container as small as a bottle cap is all they need. Community members are encouraged to share the following tips with neighbors:

Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water such as flowerpots, watering cans, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, old tires, boats, tarps, and garbage cans and lids. Tightly cover water storage containers (e.g. rain barrels). For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito. Clean gutters and downspout screens regularly. Position drain pipes to ensure drainage. Fill in low spots in yards, where water pools. Use screens on windows and doors and repair holes in screens.

For more information, including links to resources from Montgomery County, MDA and the Centers for Disease Control, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/mosquito.