Recent flooding, including flooding from storm surges and rains due to extreme weather in 2012, have many experts predicting significantly increased mosquito activity nation wide.

According to Dr. Mark Johnsen, Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert, two distinct waves of mosquito infestations seem to explode following a flood.

The first wave of mosquitoes to follow a flood are the flood water mosquitoes, which include the salt march and pastureland mosquitoes. These mosquito species deposit their eggs on the soil in areas that are flooded periodically. When the area floods, the eggs hatch within 5-7 days, resulting in large swarms of mosquitoes during the warmest times of the year. According to Johnsen, flood water mosquitoes tend to be more of an annoyance than a disease threat.

Johnsen says, “The second wave, which usually comes a few weeks later, consists mainly of standing-water mosquitoes which breed in stagnating post-flood water. These mosquito species have the primary vectors of disease.”

While you can’t predict the weather and prevent damaging floods, you can be proactive about controlling the waves of mosquito populations that follow them.

Using a larvacide like mosquito dunks, mosquito bits or mosquito barrier to kill mosquito larvae in water sources is an effective way to eliminate breeding grounds and prevent mosquitoes from maturing into adult biting insects.

Visit our mosquito repellent section and choose from a variety of mosquito larvacides that are guaranteed to kill mosquito larvae populations that follow floods.