Mosquito Control in Bakersfield
You walk outside for a few minutes and start getting bit.
You check your own yard. The sprinklers look fine. The grass is cut. There is no giant puddle sitting in the middle of the yard. So where are all the mosquitoes coming from?
Sometimes the problem is in your yard. Sometimes it is next door. Sometimes it is coming from a place you cannot control. Mosquitoes do not care where your property line ends.
Around Bakersfield, I see mosquito problems all over the city. I have treated homes from the 93312 side of town all the way to the 93307. Mosquito season here runs May through October. Sometimes it feels longer.
Dense plants, shrubs and shade give adults more places to rest. Standing water makes the problem even worse, because that is where new mosquitoes can start.
Getting hammered by mosquitoes in your yard? Spraying is included with Bart's pest control plans during mosquito season.
Mosquitoes Do Not Need a Pool
A lot of people think mosquito breeding only happens in big puddles or dirty pools. That is not true. Mosquitoes can use small amounts of standing water.
That can be:
- buckets
- toys
- flower pots
- plant saucers
- kiddie pools
- clogged drains
- old containers
- tarps
- trash
- sprinkler runoff
- anything outside that holds water
I have seen one small kiddie pool holding a huge amount of larvae. That is why I keep telling people: dump the water. Then look again. There are usually more water-holding spots around a yard than people think.
One small pool can hold a whole lot more mosquito activity than people expect.
Your Yard Can Be Clean and You Can Still Have Mosquitoes
This is one of the biggest things customers ask me about.
Their yard looks good. The plants are trimmed and cared for. Their sprinklers are working right. They do not have buckets full of water everywhere. And they are still getting bit.
That can happen because mosquitoes do not stay inside your fence. A nearby yard may have:
- clutter
- buckets
- old containers
- broken sprinklers
- standing water
- plants that got out of hand
- things hidden under piles of stuff
- water that has been sitting for days or weeks
There are also things around town that you cannot control. That can include:
- canals
- drainage areas
- ponds
- reservoirs
- other water sources
- nearby homes
This is why mosquito control works better when everyone around the area does their part.
Dense Landscaping Can Make Mosquito Problems Worse
Adults like cool, shaded places. That is why dense shrubs and dense plants can matter.
They may rest:
- under leaves
- inside shrubs
- around shaded plants
- under decks
- around damp areas
- in dense plants
That is why real spraying is not just walking into the yard and spraying the grass. We are looking for where adults are actually spending time.
The Biggest Mosquito Mistake I See
People think mosquito control is just spraying adults.
Spraying can help. But that is only one part of the problem.
The mosquitoes biting you are the adults. The water around the area may be making the next group. Kill the adults but leave the water, and you fight the same fight again and again.
"Adults are the problem you see. Standing water can be where the next problem starts."
What You Can Do Around Your Own Home
You do not need to own a pest control company to make a big difference. Start with your own yard.
1. Dump Standing Water
Walk your yard once a week. Look for anything holding water. Dump it. Turn it over. Cover it. Clean it out.
Do not only look for big puddles. Check the little stuff too.
Walk your yard and dump anything holding water.
2. Keep Up With Landscaping
Trim dense plants. Do not let the yard turn into a wall of plants. That can help reduce some of the cool, shaded places adults like to rest.
3. Check Your Sprinklers
Look for:
- broken sprinklers
- leaking lines
- water pooling in low spots
- a sprinkler that runs too long
- water sitting where it should not
This is also where gardeners and landscapers can help. They are already around the yard. They may be the first to spot broken sprinklers or water that is pooling.
Your landscaper can help with mosquito control too.
4. Spread the Word
If mosquitoes are bad on your street, it helps when more than one person dumps standing water. This is not about blaming anybody. It is about helping the whole area.
5. Use a Fan Where You Sit Outside
A patio fan can help make a small area more comfortable. Moving air makes it harder for mosquitoes to find you and land on you.
It does not fix the mosquito problem in the yard. But it can help when you are sitting outside. Think of it as a comfort tip, not a mosquito treatment.
6. What About Citronella and Mosquito-Repelling Plants?
Citronella candles and some plant-based repellents may help a little around a small sitting area. They may help for a short time.
But do not treat them like a full mosquito control plan. They do not replace:
- dumping standing water
- fixing sprinkler leaks
- reducing breeding spots
- help from a pro
How Professional Mosquito Control Works
A real program has a few parts. Here is what each part is for. I will not hand you a recipe. The right way depends on the yard, the label, and what I find when I look.
1. Adult Mosquito Control
We target adults where they like to rest. That often means shrubs, dense plants, shade, and other protected spots.
The goal is to reduce the mosquitoes that are already flying around and biting.
2. Larval Control
Larvae are the baby mosquitoes living in water. If the water can be dumped, dump it.
If the water cannot go away, some labeled products can target the larvae. You can also buy certain larva products for approved standing water. Always follow the label.
3. Source Reduction
The best mosquito breeding site is the one that does not exist anymore. If we can remove the water, we remove the place they were using.
That is why mosquito control starts with finding the source.
4. Ongoing Service
Mosquitoes keep moving. New adults can come into the yard. New water can show up. Plants grow. Irrigation changes.
That is why mosquito control works better as a service all season, not one spray and done.
Want First Access to Bart's Full Mosquito Program?
Bart's is building a full-season program for Bakersfield. The goal is to attack mosquitoes from more than one direction.
The program may include:
- adult mosquito treatment
- larval control
- breeding-site reduction
- monitoring
- stations
- ongoing treatment during mosquito season
We are building it, so final program details may change before launch.
Professional Mosquito Stations
Bart's plans to use stations as part of the future full-season program. One system being considered is In2Care.
In simple terms, the stations are made so mosquitoes enter and pick up active ingredients. The system uses pyriproxyfen and Beauveria bassiana. The idea is to hit the adults, and also reach larvae in other breeding spots through the mosquito's own behavior.
I want to be careful here. This does not reach every breeding site. It does not get rid of every mosquito. It does not guarantee control outside your property. And it is a pro-only tool, not something you buy and set up yourself. It is only a planned part of a bigger program. Nothing about it is final yet.
What If Mosquito Bites Really Bother Me?
Some customers tell me they react strongly to bites. I have had people show me how much the bites bother them.
I am not a doctor, and mosquito control is not medical treatment. But if bites keep you out of your yard, fewer mosquitoes can make outside time better.
What Mosquito Control Can and Cannot Do
I want to be clear with customers. Mosquito control can help reduce the population around your home. But nobody can control every mosquito in Bakersfield.
There are things we cannot control:
- nearby yards
- canals
- ponds
- drainage areas
- sprinklers
- water on other homes
- new mosquitoes flying into the area
The goal is not to promise that you will never see another mosquito. The goal is less pressure around your home, so you can use your yard again.
"Keep them at bay. Make the yard easier to enjoy."
When Should You Call Bart's?
Call Bart's when:
- you walk outside and get bit right away
- you cannot enjoy your backyard
- mosquitoes stay bad after you clean up standing water
- your yard has heavy plants
- nearby homes may be adding pressure
- you want spraying included with your pest control service
- you are tired of fighting them yourself
If you are doing the right things and mosquitoes are still bad, it may be time for pro help.
What Are Mosquitoes Doing Around Bakersfield?
Use Bart's Pest Radar to see what pest activity is being reported around Bakersfield. It can help show what people are seeing around the area. It never shows anyone's address.
Not Sure It Is a Mosquito?
Gnats, midges and other small flyers get mistaken for mosquitoes all the time. Send a clear photo to Pest Radar and we will help you work out what you found.
Mosquito Questions I Hear All the Time
Why do I have mosquitoes if I do not have standing water?
The breeding site may not be in your yard. Mosquitoes can come from nearby properties or other water sources around the area. Your own landscaping may also give adult mosquitoes places to rest.
Can mosquitoes breed in a small amount of water?
Yes. Mosquitoes can use small containers and small amounts of standing water. That is why buckets, toys, flower pots, kiddie pools, and other containers matter.
Does mosquito spraying get rid of every mosquito?
No. Spraying can help reduce adult mosquitoes around the property. But new mosquitoes can keep coming in from nearby areas. That is why mosquito control works best as a bigger plan.
Why do mosquitoes like shrubs?
Dense plants can give adult mosquitoes cool, shaded places to rest. That is why shrubs and dense landscaping are common areas to inspect and treat.
Do mosquito dunks work?
Some mosquito larval products are made for standing water that cannot be dumped. They are used to target mosquito larvae before they become adults. Always follow the product label.
Do citronella candles work?
They may help a little in a small area for a short time. They should not replace dumping standing water or real mosquito control.
Do mosquito-repelling plants work?
Some plant oils can have repellent effects. But planting a few plants does not mean mosquitoes will stay out of the yard. Treat them as an extra, not the whole plan.
Do fans help with mosquitoes?
Yes, fans can help around a patio or sitting area. Moving air makes it harder for mosquitoes to find and land on you. It does not fix the whole yard, but it can make sitting outside more comfortable.
Can my neighbor's yard be causing my mosquito problem?
Nearby properties can add mosquito pressure if they have standing water or other breeding spots. That does not always mean one neighbor is the whole cause. Mosquito control works better when more people around the area remove breeding water.
When should I call Bart's?
Call when mosquitoes are keeping you from enjoying the yard, when you get bit as soon as you go outside, or when the problem stays bad even after you clean up your own property.
Ready to Get Your Yard Back?
You now know the big pieces. Dump standing water. Keep your plants trimmed. Fix sprinkler problems. Check hidden containers. Use fans where you sit. Share this with a neighbor. And remember that spraying adults is only one part of mosquito control.
If you are doing all of that and the mosquitoes are still eating you alive, let Bart's help.
Bart's Bugs Be Gone. Pest Control on Your Terms.
Pesticide Safety: Always read and follow the product label, including required PPE, approved use areas, directions, and restrictions. If you are not sure how to treat it, or you just do not want to, call Bart's Bugs Be Gone.
Sources and Further Reading
- CDC: Mosquito Control at Home
- CDC: About Culex Mosquitoes and Life Cycle of Aedes Mosquitoes
- CDC: Adulticides (Adult Mosquito Control)
- EPA: Bti for Mosquito Control
- EPA: Success in Mosquito Control, an Integrated Approach (see "Control Mosquitoes at the Larval Stage")
- In2Care Mosquito Station U.S. product label, EPA registration 91720-1
More from Bart's: German roach control in Bakersfield, bed bug control in Bakersfield, flea and tick control in Bakersfield, ant control in Bakersfield, Pest Radar, Instagram, TikTok and the Bart's Bugs Be Gone home page.