It only takes a bottle cap of water for mosquitoes to breed. The Aedes mosquito, which can spread dengue, prefers clean, still water close to where people live.
That means the most important breeding spots are usually right around our own homes.
Where mosquitoes breed
Walk around your house and garden and look for anything that can hold water for more than a few days:
- Flower pot saucers and vases.
- Blocked roof gutters and drains.
- Old tyres, buckets and containers left outdoors.
- Pet water bowls and the tray under the fridge.
The weekly 10 minute routine
Mosquito eggs take about a week to become adults, so a weekly check breaks the cycle.
- Empty, scrub and refill flower pot saucers and vases.
- Turn buckets and containers upside down.
- Clear leaves from gutters and drains.
- Cover water storage tanks tightly.
Scrubbing matters as much as emptying. Mosquito eggs stick to the sides of containers and survive for months when dry.
Protecting your family
While you remove breeding spots, reduce bites too. Use screens on windows, wear long sleeves at dawn and dusk and use a repellent when outdoors.
When to get professional help
If mosquitoes are still a problem after you have cleared the obvious spots, there may be hidden breeding areas in drains, ceilings or nearby land. A professional treatment can target these.
