City of magic, wonder, and… mosquitoes? Yes, even amongst the enchanting realms of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando, these pesky critters find a way to buzz their way into your vacation memories. But fear not, we’ve got the inside scoop on how to get rid of mosquitoes in Orlando.
14 Tips To Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your Orlando Yard
Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant and/or standing water — so removing water from your yard should be your first task for mosquito control.
Here’s how:
- Clean out leaves and debris from clogged gutters. Mosquitoes adore wet leaves.
- Move or dispose of anything that will accumulate standing or stagnant water, including buckets, containers, or flowerpot saucers. This will prevent the female mosquito from finding water to lay her eggs.
- Drill drainage holes in the bottom of outdoor trash cans and recycling containers
- Turn over kiddie pools and wheelbarrows when not in use (or store them in a sheltered, covered area).
- Aerate birdbaths, ornamental pools, and fountains.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools regularly.
- Kill larvae with mosquito dunks (Bti) in ornamental ponds, birdbaths, fountains, rain barrels, and anywhere you want to keep standing water.
- Spray the perimeter of your yard with mosquito foggers to repel and deter adult mosquitoes. (Protect the bees by using a bee-safe product.)
- Trap and kill the adult mosquitoes in mosquito traps (Some have a fan that sucks them in, and others have sticky surfaces.) If you don’t want to shell out cash, try simple DIY mosquito traps you can make at home.
- “Zapper” them with a mosquito zapper to kill adult mosquitoes. (How it works: The light and attractant draw them in, electrocuting and vaporizing them.)
- Entice and kill the adult mosquitoes with CO2 traps. These utilize carbon dioxide to attract, draw, and then kill them. (Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale.)
- Confuse their olfactory senses by diffusing our scents. They won’t be able to locate our carbon dioxide or lactic acid scents if you use citronella incense sticks, mosquito coils, and eucalyptus (in an essential oil diffuser) to repel them.
- Remove water from any water-holding plants like bromeliads and spathes (even a single leaf can hold enough water for female mosquitoes to lay their eggs).
- Repel them with a 21st-century solution: Mosquito-repellent devices dispel backyard skeeters effectively.
When is Mosquito Season in Orlando?
Orlando’s mosquito season runs from February to November, the peak time being June to August. Mosquito control in Orlando is all about timing. Knowing when mosquito season occurs and understanding the mosquito life cycle can aid in the prevention of mosquito bites, which may result in mosquito-borne diseases.
Mosquito Life Cycle
For this article, we will concentrate on the standing water mosquitoes. These species of mosquitoes complete four life stages.
Depending on the species and the temperature, the process can take anywhere from four days to a whole month. However, some species can reproduce in as little as seven to 10 days during warmer temperatures. Here are specific ways to get rid of mosquitoes at every stage of life:
| The Life Stage in the Mosquito’s Life Cycle | Best Methods |
| Egg | Prevention: Remove stagnant or standing water to prevent opportunities to lay eggs. The female mosquito will have to look elsewhere. |
| Larva | Larvicides such as Bti disrupt their ability to develop and grow. |
| Pupa | Pupacides applied on the water’s surface suffocate them. |
| Adult | Adulticides kill, deter, or repel these adults. Mosquito sprays for yards are frequently used. |
Note: If you use a spray for your yard, ensure it doesn’t kill the bees. They are our pollinator friends; we need them to keep our ecosystem going.
Mosquitoes in Orlando’s Hurricane Season and Rainy Season
Orlando’s rainy season is between June and September. Their hurricane season is from June through November. Since the two seasons overlap during some months, an increase in rain and humidity is likely and provides ample opportunities for the mosquito population to proliferate.
Walking your property frequently and looking for damage after a hurricane is great. It’s a good idea to be hyper-vigilant after heavy rains as some mosquitoes adore standing and/or stagnant water to lay their eggs.
Double Trouble With Mosquitoes
Certain species of mosquitoes will appear in greater numbers after a hurricane or flood. There are two groups of mosquitoes: floodwater mosquitoes and standing-water mosquitoes.
When dry areas flood, the floodwater mosquito eggs (Aedes epactius) begin to hatch. When the floodwater can’t flow anywhere and stays put, it becomes standing water. Then the standing-water mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) will lay their eggs in that standing water.
Note: Floodwater mosquitoes prefer to lay their eggs in moist soil. Standing-water mosquitoes prefer to lay their eggs in standing water (hence the name).
Local Mosquito Control Resources in Orlando
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Orange County 311 Help Line
Did you know you can easily connect with the local government through Orange County’s non-emergency 311 Help and Information line? It’s available seven days a week, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can use it to report local mosquito infestations, standing/stagnant water, and hurricane issues.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program
The Florida Health website recommends homeowners use an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, which uses a combination of methods: source reduction, eliminating areas where mosquitoes thrive, and surveillance. Use this approach before applying any insecticide to determine whether an application is necessary.
Mosquitofish
The Orange County Mosquito Control Office often releases mosquitofish (Gambusia) to reduce mosquito populations naturally. Gambusia fish are offered to Orange County residents free of charge and can be released into their ornamental ponds if they weren’t there previously.
What are mosquitofish? Mosquitofish (Gambusia) are a species of freshwater fish that eat mosquito larvae. This native Central Florida fish is found in fresh bodies of water, including ponds, lakes, and canals.
FAQ
Walt Disney World gives out free mosquito repellent to all visitors. The park was worried about the Zika virus and wanted to prevent those mosquitoes from biting you. You no longer have to worry about adding something else to your list; the kids won’t be annoyed by pesky mosquitoes.
Yes, Orange County uses the latest methods and technology, including:
• Truck-mounted spraying using insecticides approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state of Florida.
• Surveillance using 27 special traps that are checked three times weekly help identify the types of mosquitoes and estimate population size.
• Daily inspection and treatment of potential and existing breeding sites.
• Public education programs on the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases.
Yes, mosquitoes have some natural predators. Check out the list of creatures that consider mosquitoes a snack:
• Fish
• Birds
• Frogs
• Tadpoles
• Turtles
• Dragonflies
Call in the Pros
City of magic, wonder, and… mosquitoes? Well, have no fear, Pest Gnome is near! Pest Gnome connects you to the best pest control experts in your area. Even in the enchanting realm of your Orlando yard, these pesky critters won’t stand a chance against the pros.
Resources:
Main Image Credit: Gabriele Maltinti / Canva Pro / License
