Mosquito Control

Mosquitoes used to be a mostly dusk-and-dawn problem in the desert Southwest — that changed with the arrival and spread of Aedes aegypti, an invasive species now established across Arizona that bites aggressively during the day and breeds in almost nothing. A bottle cap of standing water, a saucer under a potted plant, a clogged gutter — all of it is enough.

Why “I don’t have standing water” usually isn’t true

Aedes mosquitoes need roughly a teaspoon to a bottle cap of water to complete a breeding cycle, and they favor small, easily overlooked containers over open ponds or pools. A thorough inspection checks the spots most homeowners never think to look — drainage boxes, irrigation valve covers, tarps, gutters, and anything that holds water for more than a few days.

Lake and canal properties need a different baseline

Community lakes, retention basins, and canal frontage — the kind of water features common in Gilbert’s neighborhoods and Chandler’s Ocotillo area — create a much higher, more constant mosquito baseline than a property a mile away with no nearby water. Treatment plans for these properties typically build in a standing mosquito reduction component rather than treating mosquitoes as a seasonal add-on.