Bo McInnis President of Houston Misting A local mosquito expert answers questions and offers tips to residents about controlling mosquitoes in the Tomball and Magnolia areas.

Why are mosquitoes attracted to water?

An adult mosquito lays the eggs on the water. Those eggs hatch and become larva. The larva lives off the phosphates in the water. It later becomes a pupa before emerging from the water as an adult. However, mosquitoes are not aquatic animals but develop in the water. In the pupa stage, a mosquito will still have to come up to the surface for oxygen. If you cut off the oxygen source, the mosquito suffocates.

Why do some areas attract more mosquitoes than others?

It is not about attracting mosquitoes, but it is about breeding them. A lot of people don’t realize a lot of the areas they have [are] breeding mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are generally found in standing water, such as in clogged gutters and drains or near a broken water fountain.

How can residents protect themselves?

Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. The more you can avoid those times of the day, the less likely you will be to come in contact with them. If you do go out at those times, scientists and anthropologists suggest wearing dark-colored clothing or long sleeves and pants. They also recommend using a mosquito repellent with deet.

What does a misting service offer?

We install mosquito misting systems. We put them around the perimeter of a residential yard. It kills and repels the mosquitoes. The product sprays two or three times a day, daily. We kill the adult mosquitoes and kill the larva as they hatch, which keeps the mosquito population down. The cost of the system on average is around $2,000 with between $600 and $800 in annual maintenance.

Do you have do-it-yourself tips to avoid mosquitoes?

Some people use a little Skin So Soft lotion instead of a mosquito spray, which seems to help repel [mosquitoes]. Others say they put a few ounces of baby oil in the drains or where they find the standing water. It creates a thin barrier on top of the water. When the pupas go to breathe air, the boundary cuts off the oxygen source. The pupa suffocates.

Can residents buy products to kill mosquitoes by themselves?

Residents can go online and purchase larvicides, which are insecticides that are specifically targeted against the larval life stage of an insect.  There are some products specialized for drains. Or a resident can buy an IGR—an insect growth regulator—which will kill the larva before it has time to pupate and will sterilize the adults as they lay eggs.