Need pest help? Save $50 on your first recurring service today with code GET50

How to Identify and Get Rid of Mosquitoes

Protect your home or business from mosquitoes by learning techniques for identification and control.

Mosquito illustration
Family Culicidae

IDENTIFY

Types of Mosquitoes

What do mosquitoes look like?

Mosquitoes belong to the same group as the true flies, Diptera. As such, they have a single pair of wings. They typically have long, thin legs and a head featuring a prominent proboscis. Mosquito bodies and wings most often are covered in tiny scales. Adult sizes may range from 3 to 9 mm. Learn more about what mosquitoes look like.

How to Get Rid of Asian Tiger Mosquitoes | Mosquito Control

Asian Tiger Mosquito

Aedes albopictus

Anopheles Mosquito Identification | Get Rid of Mosquitoes

Anopheles Mosquito

Treatment

How do I get rid of mosquitoes?

What Orkin Does

Mosquito treatment is usually an integrated effort involving source reduction plus the use of chemical control products when needed. Since mosquitoes develop in water, source reduction targets and eliminates water sources favorable for mosquito breeding. While source reduction is the more effective long-term approach to mosquito treatment, the mosquito treatment plan may require using chemical products to supplement source reduction.

The mosquito treatment plan begins with your pest management professional conducting a thorough property inspection and identifying the kind of mosquitoes causing problems. Once the inspection and identification is complete, your pest management professional will prepare a mosquito treatment plan that provides recommendations and assistance for both source reduction and necessary chemical product use. Some of the source reduction recommendations might include:

  • Locate Where They Come From – A diagram of your property is prepared that indicates actual or potential mosquito development sites.

  • Keep Them Out of the House – Providing recommendations to exclude mosquitoes from getting inside the home.

  • Eliminate Hiding Spots – Providing recommendations for vegetation management since many species of mosquitoes rest in vegetation around the home during the day.

Some chemical product uses that may be needed for mosquito treatment include:

  • Vegetation Treatments – Applying insecticides to vegetation that adult mosquitoes use for sheltered resting sites.

  • Water Treatments – Applying insect growth regulators that prevent mosquito development in their water environments.

  • Prevent Eggs From Hatching – Applying microbial insecticide products that cause mosquito mortality in their water environments.

Orkin is trained to help manage mosquitoes and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your Orkin Pro will design a unique mosquito treatment program for your situation.

Call us877-819-5061
Get Your Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

Mosquito on leaf

Mosquito Facts

Understanding Mosquito Problems

The more you know about mosquitoes, the better you can predict and control their behavior. Here are some quick facts to help you on your way.

Lifespan

Generally, male mosquitoes are smaller than females of the same species and live shorter lives than the females.

Disease Risk

Encephalitis spread by mosquitoes continues to be a problem in the United States.

Reproduction

Mosquito reproduction usually occurs while the mosquito "couple" is airborne. Experts researched this behavior and discovered sound and wing beat frequencies produced by males and females is one of the various phenomenon that attracts them to one another.

Feeding

Male adult mosquitoes do not feed on blood, while females do to aid in egg production. A few species of adult females do not feed on blood at all and maintain a diet of plant nectar and other sugars, just like males.

Proboscis

A female mosquito's proboscis that extends out from the mouth area is relatively smooth while the adult males are somewhat bushy.

Antennae

The hairs or plumes on a mosquito's antenna assist with their ability to hear. The male's antennae plumes are "feathery" and large, while the female's antennae have a smoother appearance.

More Resources

Dig Deeper on Mosquitoes

Visit the Orkin Pest Library to learn how to identify and control other pests.
Explore Our Pest Library

Connect with Us

Our customer care team is available for you 24 hours a day.

877-819-5061

Find a Branch

Our local Pros are the pest experts in your area.

Get a Personalized Quote

We will help you find the right treatment plan for your home.

THE BEST IN PESTS.™

SERVICES

Pest ControlTermite ControlPrevent and Protect

PEST LIBRARY

Browse All Pests

© 2024 Orkin LLC

Terms of UsePrivacyAccessibility StatementCareers

Your Branch  

Call Now