As the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. is known for the White House as well as several important monuments and memorials, which makes it a tourist hot spot. But lots of people give mosquitoes a lot of options to choose from. Read on to learn how to get rid of mosquitoes in Washington, D.C. and fight the bite.
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes Outdoors in Washington, D.C.
Orkin consistently ranks Washington, D.C. among its top mosquito cities. With effective mosquito control, we can work to make that ranking even lower.
Mosquitoes can breed in the smallest amount of water, so you will want to eliminate breeding areas, control existing mosquitoes, and prevent bites.
Eliminate Breeding Areas
- Eliminate standing water from things that can potentially hold water. This includes vases, flower pot saucers, buckets, and pool covers. You can learn more on this topic in our article: “How to Get Rid of Standing Water in Your Yard.”
- Empty and clean bird baths, kiddie pools, and pet water bowls once a week.
- Create drainage holes in containers like trash cans or recycling bins to prevent water from collecting inside.
- Regularly clean and maintain your gutters so that they don’t accumulate debris and standing water.
- Securely cover rain barrels and other water collection containers like cisterns and water tanks with a fine mesh screen. This allows you to continue to collect rainwater, but mosquitoes can’t find their way inside to lay eggs.
- Treat pools and hot tubs with chlorine to make them clean and inhospitable to mosquito larvae. Make sure that your pools are covered when not in use, and that the covers don’t collect puddles.
- Mow and trim your lawn and prune shrubs so mosquitoes don’t have anywhere to rest or hide during their hours of downtime.
- Don’t overwater your lawn. Mosquitoes can lay eggs in as little as a bottle cap’s worth of water, so creating potential puddles will just give the mosquitoes more options to breed.
Control Existing Mosquitoes
- EPA approved larvicides can control mosquitoes by preventing mosquito larvae from reaching adulthood, killing them before they have a chance to bite or breed. You can purchase larvicides, also known as mosquito dunks, at your local garden center.
- Spraying and fogging your yard with a fine mist of insecticide can help control the mosquito population— but it can also kill beneficial insects.
- Introduce mosquitofish to your backyard in fountains, large bird baths, or ornamental ponds to cut down on these pests. Mosquitofish are a type of fish that likes to eat mosquito larvae, thus controlling the population.
- Professional mosquito control experts use EPA-approved pesticides and specialized equipment to reduce the number of mosquitoes on your property. If you’re looking for long-term relief from mosquitoes, the best mosquito control companies offer regular, recurring visits.
Prevent Mosquito Bites
- Use the best mosquito repellents with either DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), Para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone as an active ingredient.
- Wear light colored, long-sleeved clothing. Mosquitoes are more attracted to dark colors, and covering your skin will help you avoid becoming an all-you-can-eat buffet. You can also wear insect-repellent clothing items.
- Keep your pets indoors as much as possible. Mosquitoes put your furry friends at risk of getting heartworms, so make sure they have their shots or regular heartworm treatment. In addition, apply dog mosquito repellents or mosquito-repelling collars to keep them safe when they do need to go out.
- Cover beds and baby strollers with mosquito netting. Mosquito nets come in a range of shapes and sizes, including pop-up, box, and canopy. Mosquito netting is also great if you plan to go camping this summer.
- Limit outdoor activity in the evening, especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- Avoid wearing cologne, perfume, or scented lotion.
- Avoid shaded, bushy areas where mosquitoes rest.
- Do not leave windows open, and make sure your windows and doors have screens.
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in the House in Washington, D.C.
Now that you know how to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your lawn, you need to know what to do about the ones that invite themselves into your home. There are several ways you can evict and exterminate these pests and prevent them from finding their way inside:
- Repair any holes in your window or door screens so there is no possible access route.
- Use air conditioning: If you don’t have mosquito screens installed yet, close the doors and windows at night and use air conditioning when indoors.
- Essential oils can be placed in diffusers to repel mosquitoes from your home. Peppermint, eucalyptus, citronella, or lemongrass oil are the best, but you can also use marigold, sage, and basil.
- Mosquito traps such as ovitraps or CO2 traps are effective, environmentally friendly, and affordable. You can also make effective DIY mosquito traps out of household items.
- Fans are great at deterring mosquitoes since they cannot fly in winds of 10 mph or higher. Fans and AC will also dispel the carbon dioxide that mosquitoes use to find humans.
- Treat drains regularly to avoid clogs and accumulated water. You can use commercial drain cleaners, or pour vinegar, salt, and baking soda into your drains.
When is Mosquito Season in Washington, D.C.?
Mosquito season in Washington, D.C. usually begins in April, only slowing down in September since mosquitoes die or hibernate during the colder months.
Mosquitoes function best at 80 F, slow down at 60 F, and go into hibernation below 50 F. Washington residents can expect mosquitoes to be very active during the spring and even worse in the summer as the volume of mosquitoes increases with the temperature.
Mosquito Control Resources in Washington, D.C.
If you’re wanting to fight the bite in Washington, D.C., there are a few services offered by DC Health to ensure the protection of the public in the District.
These services include:
- Larvicides: DC Health actively applies larvicides to sources of standing water.
- Mosquito surveillance: DC Health traps and tests mosquitoes for West Nile virus, monitoring the types of mosquitoes found across the city and offering surveillance reports for each year.
- Report mosquito-borne diseases: Washington, D.C. healthcare providers can use the online reporting system to report cases of mosquito-borne diseases.
- Information Resources: DC Health offers information on their website about mosquito-borne diseases. They also offer resources for residents who plan to travel about the risk of diseases at their travel destination and how to avoid them.
How Much Does Mosquito Control Cost?
The national average cost of professional mosquito control is around $450, with costs typically being somewhere between $350 – $550. The amount you can end up paying for professional mosquito control is determined by several factors, including:
- Frequency of visits
- Property size
- Size of the infestation
- Treatment methods
If you take these factors into account, then you can be prepared, as the cost of your mosquito control may range between $80 – $1,600. You can always call the company for a quote ahead of time so you aren’t blindsided by a large bill and can budget accordingly.
FAQ: Mosquitoes in Washington, D.C.
How Often Should I Treat Mosquitoes?
Mosquito control treatments are every 2-4 weeks during mosquito season. However, the frequency of your mosquito treatment may have to be more often if your area has a higher mosquito population. You can always contact a mosquito control pro to figure out the best treatment schedule to fit your needs.
What Wind Speed Stops Mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes’ small wings and lightweight body make it difficult for them to fly and approach potential hosts in wind speeds that exceed 10 mph. Learn more on our guide, “Do Fans Keep Mosquitoes Away?“
Can Mosquitoes Fly in the Rain?
Unfortunately, yes, even though a drop of rain weighs many times more than a mosquito’s body weight, mosquitoes can still fly in the rain. So, even if you go out in the rain, you will still be pestered by these bloodsucking insects.
When to Call a Pro
Mosquito control is essential to keeping you, your family, and your pets safe from diseases and itchy bites. Let Pest Gnome connect you with a reputable mosquito control service for long-term protection against mosquitoes in the Capital of the World.
Main Image Credit: Dennis / Adobe Stock Free / License
