Straight answers from a licensed New York exterminator and Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) — serving all five boroughs, in English and Spanish.
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Quick answer: Mosquitoes are small biting flies whose females need a blood meal to produce eggs, which they lay in standing water. They cause itchy bites and can transmit West Nile virus and other diseases. Mosquito control is built on source reduction — eliminating standing water — plus larvicides in water that cannot be drained and targeted treatment of resting sites.
What do mosquitoes look like?
Mosquitoes are slender flies with long legs, narrow wings, and an elongated piercing mouthpart (proboscis). Females use the proboscis to take blood; males feed only on nectar. Common NYC species include container-breeding types active around homes.
Signs and behavior
The obvious sign is itchy bites and mosquitoes active at dawn, dusk, or in shaded areas. Some container-breeding species bite aggressively during the day. Adults rest in cool, shaded vegetation between blood meals.
Why mosquitoes matter
Female mosquitoes require a blood meal to produce eggs, and in doing so can transmit pathogens. In the NYC region, West Nile virus is the primary mosquito-borne concern. Reducing bites and breeding sites reduces both nuisance and disease risk.
How to control mosquitoes
The foundation is source reduction — eliminating standing water, since larvae develop in water. Empty or remove containers weekly, clean gutters, fix drainage, and change birdbath water. Water that cannot be drained (catch basins, ponds) can be treated with larvicides. Targeted treatment of shaded resting sites reduces adults, and screens plus repellents cut bites.
When to call a professional
A professional mosquito program combines a property inspection for breeding sites, larvicide where needed, and targeted adult treatment on a seasonal schedule — more effective than fogging alone.
A Brooklyn-based, NYSDEC-registered company (Reg. #15140) led by Jorge Bedoya, an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). For mosquitoes, NYE provides harborage-focused mosquito reduction around the property. ACE-led work comes with a client portal of service reports and photos, fully bilingual service, and no long-term contract.
Mosquito FAQ
Why do mosquitoes bite me?
Only female mosquitoes bite; they need protein from a blood meal to develop eggs. They locate hosts by carbon dioxide, body heat, and skin odors, which is why some people are bitten more than others.
Are mosquitoes dangerous?
Beyond itchy bites, mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as West Nile virus in the NYC area, and others elsewhere. Reducing bites and breeding sites lowers that risk.
How do you control mosquitoes?
Eliminate standing water where they breed (source reduction), treat water that cannot be drained with larvicides, and apply targeted treatment to shaded resting areas. Personal protection with repellents and screens reduces bites.
Where do mosquitoes breed?
In standing water: clogged gutters, flowerpot saucers, buckets, tires, tarps, birdbaths, catch basins, and any container that holds water for several days.
How do I reduce mosquitoes in my yard?
Empty or remove containers weekly, clean gutters, change birdbath water, fix drainage, and keep vegetation trimmed to reduce shaded resting spots.
More in our Pest Library · Not sure what you have? Try the NYC Pest Identifier. Reviewed by Jorge Bedoya, ACE.
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- Phone: (347) 210-4646
- Email: info@nyepestcontrol.com
- Address: 1115 East 13th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11230