Southern House Mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus)

How to Identify Them

It's a plain brownish mosquito without the bright white stripes of Aedes species. It's most active from dusk through the night and often enters homes.

Common look-alikes:

• Yellow fever and Asian tiger mosquitoes: black and white, and bite during the day.

Signs of a Problem

• Bites at night, especially indoors
• Mosquitoes resting in garages and under eaves
• Egg rafts or larvae in drains, buckets of dirty water or unused pools

Breeding-Site Checklist

• Keep pools maintained and covers drained.
• Clear clogged gutters and drains.
• Empty buckets and containers holding dirty water.
• Repair leaky outdoor faucets and A/C drain puddles.

Neglected Pools and Retention Ponds

A pool that isn't being filtered or treated can quickly turn green and start producing mosquitoes, and in our climate that can happen in a short time. This is common with vacant homes, foreclosures and pools left alone during long trips. If you notice a neighbor's pool turning green, your local code enforcement or mosquito control district can help. On your own property, keep the pump running on schedule and the chemistry balanced, and drain standing water from pool covers.

Retention ponds and drainage ditches are also common in South Florida communities. Healthy ponds with fish and moving water produce fewer mosquitoes, but stagnant edges full of vegetation and debris can breed them. HOA-managed ponds may be part of community mosquito plans.

Septic and Drainage Areas

Cracked septic covers, standing water near drain fields and clogged yard drains can hold water rich in organic matter, which this mosquito prefers. Repairing covers and keeping drains clear removes breeding spots.

Remember: mosquito control districts handle public areas, while your own yard and drains are up to you.