Residents who are fed up with biting mosquitoes often request the District to adulticide (kill adult mosquitoes with pesticide).

Adulticide spraying is a tool in the District's mosquito management plan, but reserved for severe conditions and considered a last resort, which can include abnormal mosquito population spikes and public health emergencies. In addition, area-wide treatments are considered short-term solutions.

Tip 'n Toss, Show Mosquitoes Who's Boss

Eliminating stagnant water is the most effective, long-term solution in cities.

• Tip out stagnant water weekly
• Toss out any unused containers that can hold stagnant water

Our Vector Control Specialists are trained to identify sources of mosquito growth and to eliminate the water first, before considering pesticides.

Also, landscaping with California native plants and reducing dense vegetation can keep mosquitoes out of your yards and patios. Mosquitoes will rest in the underside of leaves to seek shelter from the Southern California heat. Some popular mosquito resting spots that can be thinned out or removed are:

• Ivy
• Hedges
• Dense bushes

Stop the Mosquito Bites: Protect with Repellent and Non-chemical Solutions

We will never get rid of 100% of mosquitoes from our environment. This means we must take steps to block the bite. 

1. Use repellent that contains ONE of the following EPA-registered ingredient: Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535, or DEET.
2. Screen them out -- make sure your screens are in good repair and fit properly over your windows
3. Wear long sleeves and pants - Mosquitoes need to bite your skin to get a blood meal. Cover up!

Trying to eliminate every single mosquito from your neighborhood may be impossible, but together, we can all work together to reduce the threat.

Start a Bite Back group in your neighborhood

Learn how to get rid of mosquitoes