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Gallinipper (Psorophora ciliata)
Identify it, prevent it, and know when to call. A South Florida guide from Pro-Spray.
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What Is a Gallinipper?
The gallinipper is a floodwater mosquito. Females lay eggs on damp soil in low spots, and the eggs can survive dry periods until heavy rain floods them. Then large numbers can hatch and develop together. The larvae are predators that eat other mosquito larvae. Adults are big enough that their bite is noticeably painful.
How to Identify Them
You'll know it by size and those shaggy, banded back legs. Compare with the Asian tiger mosquito (small, black with a white stripe) and the yellow fever mosquito, the most common container breeders around South Florida homes.
Life Cycle
Females lay eggs on damp soil in low spots that will flood. The eggs can wait in dry soil until heavy rain covers them, then hatch together. The larvae grow quickly and eat other mosquito larvae, then pupate, and adults emerge in large numbers within days of a big storm.
Look-alikes and How to Tell Them Apart
- Asian tiger mosquito: small and black with a single white stripe down the back and white leg bands.
- Yellow fever mosquito: small, with a white lyre shape on the back.
- Southern house mosquito: small and plain brown; bites mostly at night.
- Crane flies: large and long-legged but harmless; they don't bite.
Where They Rest in South Florida
Low, grassy areas that hold water after storms, roadside ditches, pastures and the shady vegetation at the edge of wooded areas. Around homes, they rest under decks, along fences and in dense, shady plantings.
When to Call a Pro
Call after heavy rain or a tropical storm if large, aggressive mosquitoes are biting, or before an outdoor event. Monthly service is recommended through rainy season.
Signs of Gallinippers
- Large mosquitoes biting through clothing soon after a big rain or storm
- Bites near low, grassy or flooded areas of the property
- Big mosquitoes resting in shady vegetation by day
Is it dangerous?
- Bites
A painful bite; aggressive, will bite day or night.
Prevention Tips
- Fill low spots and fix drainage that holds water after storms.
- Wear long sleeves and EPA-registered repellent when working outside after rain.
- Keep screens and pool cage panels in good repair.
- Dump containers, tarps and toys that hold water.
How Pro-Spray Treats Gallinippers
We treat yards with a backpack fogger on a monthly schedule, focusing on shady resting areas such as under decks, along fences and in dense vegetation near the home, plus breeding-site reduction, especially in rainy season. Monthly service is recommended, and the schedule can be customized. After big storms we can also schedule a one-time event spray before a gathering. See our mosquito control page. Our Bug Free Guarantee: If pests come back between visits, so do we, at no extra cost.
New customer offer
$50 OFF your first service
+ FREE inspection
Then stay protected with our $125 quarterly pest control plan, about $42/month.
New customers only. No code needed and no expiration. Mention this offer when you call or text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do gallinippers show up after storms?
Do gallinippers spread disease?
Can repellent stop a gallinipper?
Reviewed October 2026 by Pro-Spray's family-run team
Pests don't wait.
Protect your home today.
Get $50 OFF your first pest service and a FREE inspection & estimate. Ongoing protection is $125 quarterly (about $42/month), with no contracts and no cancellation fees.
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