Skip to content
Anchor Pest Services logo
(603) 785-0118
Mosquito — species photo
Daniel Brady · NH-Licensed Pesticide Applicator · License #782664

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes

Doable with care
To get rid of mosquitoes, eliminate every source of standing water on your property — even a bottle cap's worth is enough for some species to breed — by emptying and scrubbing birdbaths, buckets, planter saucers, tires, and clogged gutters at least weekly, and covering rain barrels. This single action is the most effective DIY mosquito control there is. Pair it with an EPA-registered repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535, or 2-undecanone (all CDC-endorsed actives) when you're outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk. For standing water you can't drain, such as a rain barrel or ornamental pond, Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) larvicide dunks kill mosquito larvae and are EPA-registered as non-toxic to people, pets, and pollinators like honeybees. New Hampshire has documented EEE, West Nile virus, and Jamestown Canyon virus activity tracked by NH DHHS, so personal protection matters — but broader yard-wide population control during an active problem is where professional treatment adds real value beyond what DIY source reduction alone can achieve.

At a glance

  • Difficulty: Intermediate
  • Time: An afternoon for the initial standing-water sweep; a weekly recheck through mosquito season
  • Cost: Low — for source reduction; a repellent adds modest ongoing cost
  • Success: High for reducing bites on your property with consistent source reduction; broader suppression is harder without professional yard treatment
The honest answer

Can you DIY Mosquito?

The verdict on Mosquito DIY

Doable with careIntermediate

Genuinely effective DIY for source reduction and personal protection — broader yard suppression is harder to do yourself.

Eliminating standing water on your property is the single highest-value mosquito-control action a homeowner can take, and it's something you can do this weekend with no special equipment. Pair it with EPA-registered personal repellents and you meaningfully reduce your bite exposure and disease risk. What DIY can't reliably do is suppress an active, established mosquito population across a whole yard or neighborhood — that requires either repeated larvicide/adulticide applications or accepting mosquitoes cross property lines from sources you don't control. New Hampshire has real, documented mosquito-borne disease activity (EEE, West Nile virus, Jamestown Canyon virus), so this isn't a species to treat casually — but it's also not a reason to panic. Source reduction and repellents genuinely work.

The playbook

The 5 DIY methods — honestly graded

Every approach graded for this species, in IPM order — prevention first, chemistry late. Pick a method to see how it works, the steps, and what it actually takes.

Prevention / Exclusion

Works well

The single highest-value DIY action against mosquitoes — eliminate standing water, don't just treat symptoms.

Mosquitoes can breed in standing water in as little as four days, and even small amounts — a bottle cap, a clogged gutter, a tarp fold — are enough for some species. Removing that water removes the breeding site entirely, which is more effective than any spray.

Best for: Every property — this is the foundational action everything else builds on

  1. Empty and scrub containers weekly

    Dump and scrub birdbaths, buckets, planter saucers, old tires, toys, and anything else that can hold water, at least once a week.

    Tip
    Scrubbing matters, not just dumping — mosquito eggs can stick to container walls above the waterline.

  2. Clear gutters and cover rain barrels

    Clean clogged gutters where water pools, and use a mesh cover or tight lid on rain barrels.

  3. Screen and seal your home

    Install or repair tight-fitting screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes from getting inside.

Tools & materials

Scrub brushGutter cleaning toolsRain barrel mesh coverWindow/door screens
Before you start
One overlooked container can undo the rest of the effort — check thoroughly, including under decks and in tall grass.
Reality check

Why DIY falls short here

Not scare tactics — the specific, proportionate reasons a home attempt can stall for this species.

Missing cryptic water sources

Even tiny containers — a bottle cap, a tarp fold, a child's toy — breed mosquitoes, and one overlooked source can undo an otherwise thorough sweep of your property.

Mosquitoes cross property lines

A neighbor's uncovered rain barrel, clogged gutter, or unmaintained pool can reinfest your yard regardless of how well you manage your own property — community-level action matters for population-level control.

Straight talk

How risky is it, really?

An honest read — most nuisance species are genuinely low risk, and we say so.

Moderate risk

New Hampshire has real, documented mosquito-borne disease activity, and this risk should not be minimized to "just a nuisance." NH DHHS tracks three arboviruses circulating in NH mosquitoes — Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), West Nile virus (WNV), and Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV). Severe neuroinvasive disease is rare but can be serious. At the same time, DIY source reduction and personal protection meaningfully reduce this risk, and most mosquito bites in NH do not lead to illness.

  • Nuisance bitingCommon

    The everyday experience for most NH residents during mosquito season

    NH DHHS

  • West Nile virus / Jamestown Canyon virus infectionOccasional

    NH DHHS has documented positive mosquito batches and human cases in recent surveillance, including hospitalizations

    NH DHHS Arboviral Surveillance

  • Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)Rare

    Rare but among the most serious mosquito-borne illnesses; detected in NH mosquitoes and animals in recent years, with NH's first human case identified in 2004

    NH DHHS

When to call a pro

Ready for a Quieter Backyard?

Source reduction and repellents help, but a persistent mosquito problem often needs yard-wide treatment. Anchor Pest Services offers seasonal mosquito programs across southern and central New Hampshire. Family-owned since 2017, NH license #782664.

Call a pro when…

  • Heavy mosquito pressure persists despite thorough standing-water elimination on your property
  • You want a yard-wide barrier or larvicide treatment program for ongoing suppression
  • You're hosting an outdoor event and want temporary population knockdown

General Pest Control

DIY source reduction and repellents are genuinely effective and worth doing regardless of professional treatment. A pro adds real value for broader yard-wide population suppression during an active mosquito problem, which is harder to achieve reliably through DIY alone.

Get a Free inspection(603) 785-0118

Keep them out

  • Empty and scrub standing water weekly — this is the single highest-value action
  • Use an EPA-registered repellent with a CDC-endorsed active ingredient outdoors
  • Use Bti dunks in water features you can't drain
New Hampshire context

Mosquitoes and disease activity in New Hampshire

NH DHHS runs active arboviral surveillance through the mosquito season, testing mosquito batches statewide for EEE, West Nile virus, and Jamestown Canyon virus. In recent surveillance, batches from towns including Keene, Londonderry, Manchester, and Nashua have tested positive, and EEE has been detected in locations including Fremont. Mosquito season in New Hampshire generally runs from late spring through the first hard frost — about October 19–29 in Manchester (NOAA) — with activity peaking in the warm, humid months.

Peak season

Late spring through early fall, peaking in warm, humid months

First-frost anchor

Manchester first hard frost ~Oct 19 (50%) / Oct 29 (80%), NOAA 1991–2020 — mosquito activity drops off sharply after the first hard frost

Before you treat

Make sure it's a Mosquito

Two quick detours worth taking — confirm the ID, then learn what drew it in so it doesn't come back.

Why is it here?

What actually attracts Mosquito

Common questions

Frequently asked

Sources & further reading(4)
  1. [1]
    NH DHHS — Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

    NH EEE/WNV/JCV surveillance data, disease risk framing

    govverified 2026-07-13
  2. [2]
    EPA — Bti for Mosquito Control

    Bti mechanism, safety profile, registration

    govverified 2026-07-13
  3. [3]
    CDC — Mosquito Control: Larvicides & Repellents

    CDC-endorsed repellent active ingredients, larvicide guidance

    govverified 2026-07-13
  4. [4]
    EPA — Successful Mosquito Control: An Integrated Approach

    Source reduction as the primary control lever

    govverified 2026-07-13

Written & reviewed by

Verified

Daniel Brady

NH-Licensed Pesticide Applicator · License #782664 (NHDAMF, RSA 430)

Daniel Brady is the New Hampshire–licensed applicator behind Anchor Pest Services, a family-owned pest control company serving the Manchester area since 2017.

Verify license

Last updated July 2026

More in Flies & Gnats

Other species you can tackle

Same category — the dot shows each one's DIY verdict at a glance (green = friendly, amber = doable with care, red = call a pro).

Professional Pest Control

Ready for a Quieter Backyard?

Source reduction and repellents help, but a persistent mosquito problem often needs yard-wide treatment. Anchor Pest Services offers seasonal mosquito programs across southern and central New Hampshire. Family-owned since 2017, NH license #782664.

Get a Free inspection(603) 785-0118
  • NH-licensed applicators (#782664)
  • Free inspection — same-day service across southern NH

NH License #782664 · No obligation · We answer in person

Keep Exploring

Your next step

Call (603) 785-0118Get an Inspection