Mosquito Prevention in Gutters: The Overlooked Area for Breeding

Every year, mosquitoes return to wreak havoc on pool parties, outdoor diners, and backyard barbecues. Not only are these biting pests annoying, but they can also carry extremely deadly diseases, including West Nile virus, Zika, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and yellow fever. For this reason, it is imperative mosquito prevention becomes a part of your home maintenance routine. Of course, the best place to start with prevention is at the source, the mosquito breeding grounds. One of the most overlooked breeding spots for mosquitoes is the gutters on your own home. 

Are Mosquitoes Attracted to Gutters?

The short answer is yes, mosquitoes can be attracted to gutters. However, the full answer is actually a little more complicated than that. In actuality, mosquitoes are attracted to standing water. Standing water, also called stagnant water, is any body of water that is not flowing. As gutters become clogged, water begins to accumulate inside of them. 

However, it is not only the standing water that makes clogged gutters an ideal mosquito breeding ground, but also the dead leaves, sticks, and other debris that accumulate there. You see, when mosquito larvae are born they need food, and the organic debris found in gutters serves as a veritable feast for them. This food source, combined with the presence of standing water, makes gutters the perfect family home for the mosquitoes in your area, increasing their population and the amount of bites your family will receive in your own backyard. 

A Breeding Area for Eggs

As mentioned, it is the standing water that makes gutters a perfect breeding ground for mosquitos, but why? You may assume that the mosquitoes are drinking the water, but that is not the case at all. Female mosquitoes need to lay their eggs in water. Outside of water, the eggs will simply not survive. The water’s usefulness to the mosquito does not end there. Once the egg hatches, the mosquito larvae live in the water and feed on organic matter like dead leaves, algae, and microorganisms. They go through four molts, growing larger with each molt. They then become pupae, the developmental stage between larvae and adult. At the end of this stage, they rest on the water’s surface to harden before taking off. As you can see the gutter is a perfect breeding ground for eggs, supporting the newly-born mosquitoes until they are ready for adulthood. 

Gutter Mosquito Control

Fortunately, if mosquitoes are breeding in your gutters, it is relatively easy to get rid of them. You must simply get rid of the standing water that they are using to lay their eggs. This means cleaning your gutters and removing all debris that are clogging them. This will allow the water to drain away, taking any mosquito eggs with it. 

Gutter Mosquito Prevention

Of course, once your gutters are clear of any clogs and standing water, you will want to take steps to prevent it from happening again. This will mostly involve regularly inspecting your gutters and cleaning them in order to prevent standing water from accumulating again in the future. You should also address other sources of standing water in your yard, such as puddles, ponds, and buckets. Some of these may be impossible to drain, but that does not mean there is nothing you can do. Sources of standing water that can not be eliminated can be treated with a larvicide, a chemical which kills mosquito larvae before they reach adulthood. Eliminating mosquitos from other standing water sources in this way will prevent them from going on to lay eggs in your gutters. 

Additional Tips for Gutter Protection

Protecting your gutters can be easy, if you know what you’re doing. Some tips we recommend include:

• Gutter Guards: When installed, these cover your gutters, allowing water to pass through while preventing debris from entering. These are one of the best methods for keeping your gutters clean and preventing clogs.

• Gutter Replacement: If your gutter system is aging and it seems to constantly be filled with standing water, it may be time for a replacement. Gutters must be properly sloped to allow for the adequate draining of water.

• Trims Branches: By trimming any branches which hang over your gutters, you can prevent clog-causing debris from entering your gutters in the first place.

By taking these steps, you can seriously prevent the likelihood of standing water accumulating in your gutters. If these steps haven’t helped lower the mosquito population on your property, it is likely time to consider professional mosquito control.