The mosquitoes biting you in Arcadia
- Invasive Aedes mosquitoes
- Small, black with white stripes on the legs and body. They bite during the day, mostly around ankles and legs, and stay close to where they hatch. The San Gabriel Valley has three introduced species: the yellow fever mosquito, the Asian tiger mosquito and the Australian backyard mosquito.
- Native Culex mosquitoes
- Brown, plain-looking and active at dusk and night. They breed in larger standing water like neglected pools, ponds and storm drains, and are the main carrier of West Nile virus in the region.
Local vector control officials say Aedes activity in the San Gabriel Valley runs highest from August through October. That lines up with the bite complaints we hear from Arcadia homeowners.
Why your own yard is usually the source
Aedes mosquitoes do not fly far. If they are biting you in your backyard, they almost certainly hatched within a few houses of it, very often in your own yard. They lay eggs just above the waterline in small containers, and the eggs can stay dry and alive for months until water returns.
- Plant saucers and pots
- Buckets, watering cans and kids' toys
- Bromeliads and other plants that hold water in their leaves
- Clogged rain gutters
- Fountains, bird baths and pet water bowls left outside
- Tarps, covered boats and anything that holds a puddle
- Water meter boxes and irrigation valve boxes
Seeing this at your place right now? A local technician can talk it through with you on the phone.
Call (626) 555-0142Our mosquito control service
Yard inspection
Call (626) 555-0142. The technician checks the yard for every container and spot holding water, including places homeowners miss, like valve boxes and plant leaves.
Source reduction
Standing water is dumped, scrubbed or treated with a larvicide where it cannot be removed.
Barrier treatment
Foliage, shaded resting areas, under decks and along fences are treated where adult mosquitoes rest during the day.
Repeat service
Mosquito treatments are usually done every three to four weeks during the season, since new mosquitoes keep arriving from nearby yards.
Working with the vector control district
Arcadia is served by the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, a public agency that monitors mosquitoes and disease across the valley. You can report neglected green pools and heavy mosquito activity to them. Their work covers public areas and surveillance. Private treatment covers the inside of your own yard, which is where Aedes mosquitoes live.
Mosquito FAQ
Why do mosquitoes bite me during the day?
The invasive Aedes species that now live in the San Gabriel Valley are day biters, unlike the native mosquitoes that come out at dusk.
Is mosquito spray safe for my garden and pets?
Treatments target shaded foliage where mosquitoes rest and avoid flowering plants where bees feed. Keep pets indoors until treated areas are dry.
How do I kill Aedes eggs in containers?
Dumping water is not enough because eggs stick to the sides. Scrub containers with a brush, or turn them over so they cannot hold water.