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The Ultimate Guide to Rodent Control
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Mosquitoes can turn a nice evening in your yard into an itchy battle. In the DC metro area, high humidity and standing water make them a constant threat. My own family’s yard had a serious problem before we looked at the science and got to work.
We tested traps, sprays, and habitat changes until we hit on a winning combo. Now, we use **IN2Care traps** plus a targeted spray on vegetation to cut breeding at the source. This guide will help you spot the local mosquito types and protect your home.
Different mosquito types bite at different times and breed in different spots. Some spread West Nile virus, which caused 253 positive pools and 15 human cases in Maryland in 2024 according to the Maryland Arbovirus Surveillance Results.
Knowing local mosquito types lets you target control where it counts. It’s the best way to cut bites and lower disease risk.
Female mosquitoes are the ones that bite. Learn why by reading our Male vs Female Mosquito guide.
Eggs: Container breeders like **Aedes** overwinter and resist drying. Raft eggs from **Culex** float in storm drains.
Larvae and pupae live 4–10 days at 77°F, so larviciding only works in this window according to the CDC’s control guide.
Adults live 2–4 weeks and bite in different rhythms. **Aedes** bite during the day and dusk, while **Culex** and **Anopheles** strike at dusk and dawn.
This daytime biter has a white stripe down its back and thrives in small containers. It peaks from June to October and can carry dengue and Zika. According to the Maryland Dept of Agriculture, it dominates trap counts in Fairfax and Montgomery counties.
Look for bronze scales on its legs. It flies slower and lives April to October. It breeds in tree holes, rock pools, and tires. Surveys in Virginia show it replacing some native species.
You’ll spot its lyre-shaped silver pattern on the thorax. It appears sporadically from July to September in urban containers. It’s a key dengue and Zika vector worldwide but not yet established in DC.
This one has bands on its abdomen and a loud whine. It booms after heavy rains in floodplains and roadside ditches. It’s a nuisance biter and a secondary West Nile bridge.
These light-brown mosquitoes breed in storm drains and catch basins. They peak July to September and are the main West Nile vector. In 2024, they made up about 38% of positive pools in Maryland.
With a darker body and longer mouthpart, this species lives in brackish marshes. It peaks August to October and can bridge West Nile and EEE to humans according to CDC guidelines.
They have four spotted wing patches and rest near shaded ponds. You see them May through September. They no longer spread malaria locally but still bite.
This large mosquito has purple scales and packs a painful bite. It lives late June to September in woodland pools and spikes after heavy rains.
With a slender, dark body, it hides in tree holes from June to October. It’s the main bird-to-bird EEE virus vector in cedar swamps.
Early spring (Apr–May): **Ae. japonicus** and **Cx. restuans** emerge first.
Early summer (Jun): **Ae. albopictus** thrives once temps stay above 75°F for 7–10 days.
Mid-summer (Jul–Aug): West Nile amplifies in **Cx. pipiens**, leading to the first human cases.
Late summer/fall (Sep–Oct): **Cx. salinarius** peaks and EEE risk rises.
Watch body patterns: stripes, spots, or scales. It tells you the genus.
Check habitats: containers, storm drains, woodland pools, or swamps. Each type has its favorite spot.
You can also follow real-time trap data from the Fairfax County Health Department.
Eliminate standing water by tossing old containers and tires.
Clean gutters and keep drains clear.
Trim thick brush and reduce shade pockets.
Use larvicides in water features as needed.
Our yard had thick vegetation and puddles that bred hundreds of mosquitoes. We tried DIY traps and sprays until we found the right mix.
We use eco-friendly **IN2Care stations** to infect adult mosquitoes with fungus and larvicide. Then we treat foliage with a topical spray for instant knockdown.
Learn more about the mosquito control process.
We serve the DC area, including Woodbridge, Sterling, Ashburn, Reston, Herndon, and Alexandria.
We cover the entire DC metro area and offer specialized services for Arlington. Check out our Arlington pest control page.
Monthly service April to October with automatic scheduling. Registered technicians maintain traps and track results. No contracts and free callbacks if you spot more mosquitoes.
Our dual mosquito and tick plan runs March to November with nine visits. We spray foliage and apply granules in ecotones. Plus we use Damminix tubes for long-term tick reduction.
Better Termite & Pest Control is family owned since 1968 and now in its third generation. Our internal research team removed nine harsh chemicals used by most companies. All products are EPA approved and ones we’d use in our own homes.
Get a deeper dive on mosquitoes in our mosquitoes resource page.
Call us with any questions or for an estimate at 703-683-2000 or email info@bettertermite.com.
In urban and suburban parts of DC, you’ll see **Aedes albopictus**, **Cx. pipiens**, and **Ae. japonicus** most often. They make up over 80% of trap catches.
**Aedes** have bright markings and bite in daylight. **Culex** are plain light-brown and bite at dusk and dawn.
Peak season runs June through September. Early June sees **Aedes** explode, mid-summer brings West Nile in **Culex**, and late summer peaks **Cx. salinarius**.
**Aedes** love small containers and tires. **Culex** breed in storm drains. **Anopheles** hang out near shaded ponds, and swamp species hide in tree holes.
In our own yard, **IN2Care** cut adult populations by over 70% after four weeks. They spread larvicide and fungus to hidden breeding spots.
**Aedes** eggs look like tiny dark specks on container walls. **Culex** eggs float together in rafts on water.
Species like **Ae. albopictus** and **Ae. japonicus** feed in daylight when they find warm hosts more easily.
Empty containers weekly, tip out water in buckets and toys. Keep gutters clear and drain water features if not in use.
Most bites are just an itch. But **Cx. pipiens** can spread West Nile, and some **Aedes** can carry Zika and dengue.
Monthly treatments from April through October keep populations down. We recommend at least seven visits for full-season cover.
For more help or a free estimate, call 703-683-2000 or email info@bettertermite.com.
With five years of hands-on experience in the pest control industry, George Schulz is a registered technician with the Virginia Pest Management Association and a proud third-generation professional in a family business that’s been protecting homes for over 57 years. He manages and trains a team of service pros while also leading internal research efforts—recently spearheading a deep-dive review of thousands of documents on pest control materials to hand-pick the most kid and pet friendly, most effective solutions tailored specifically for homes in the DC metro area. Read his bio.
