Pest Library
Southern House Mosquito
The southern house mosquito is a plain brown mosquito that bites from dusk into the night. It prefers stagnant, organically rich water — clogged gutters, catch basins, ditches, unmaintained pools, buckets of standing yard water — so drainage and gutter maintenance drive how much of it a property produces.
Profile
- Scientific name
- Culex quinquefasciatus
- Identification
- Uniform brown with no bright banding; rests with the body roughly parallel to the surface.
- Typical size
- About 1/4 inch.
- Behavior
- Crepuscular and nocturnal; enters homes through gaps and damaged screens to bite at night.
- Habitat
- Catch basins, clogged gutters, ditches, tires, neglected pools, septic seepage and standing yard water.
- Diet
- Blood for females; nectar for both sexes.
- Lifecycle
- Egg rafts on stagnant water; development to adult in about one to two weeks in warm conditions.
- Why it matters
- Mosquitoes can transmit disease. Follow CDC guidance on repellents and protection, and direct health questions to a healthcare provider.
- DIY considerations
- Gutter cleaning and drainage correction remove the majority of on-property breeding habitat for this species.
- Professional considerations
- Bed Bugs & Beyond does not offer mosquito control. This profile is identification and prevention information only. Source reduction around your property is the most effective step you can take yourself, and your county or municipal mosquito program may also be a resource.
Signs of activity
- Biting concentrated at dusk and after dark
- Larvae in gutters, catch basins or standing ditch water
- Mosquitoes indoors at night where screens are damaged
Prevention
- Clean gutters and keep downspouts draining freely
- Correct yard low spots that hold water for more than a few days
- Address neglected pools, fountains and water features
- Repair window and door screens and maintain door sweeps
- Use EPA-registered repellents as directed on the label
Sources
Related information
Seeing southern house mosquito at your property?
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