Why mosquitoes get worse in rainy season
Every mosquito you swat started life as larvae in standing water. Rainy season creates thousands of tiny breeding sites across every yard in Jamaica — most of them in places you'd never think to check. One cap full of water can hatch 100+ mosquitoes.
With dengue, chikungunya and Zika all actively circulating in Jamaica, mosquito prevention isn't just about being comfortable in your yard — it's about not getting your family sick.
The 15-minute weekly walk-around
Every Saturday morning during rainy season, do a 15-minute walk around your yard with one job: find and dump any standing water. Here's where it hides:
Obvious spots
- Plant pot saucers and drip trays
- Buckets, wheelbarrows and watering cans left outside
- Pet water bowls (change daily anyway)
- Birdbaths — refresh weekly
Spots most people miss
- Rain gutters clogged with leaves — a huge breeding zone most people never check
- Old tyres stored in the yard or on top of outbuildings — classic breeding spot
- Tarps and plastic sheeting that have pooled water on top
- Children's toys left outside — buckets, slides, plastic chairs that collect water in the moulded parts
- Tree stumps that have hollowed out and collect water
- The bottom tray of your air conditioner condenser
- Discarded bottles and cans around the perimeter
- Pet food/water bowls under the house
- Water meter boxes that collect rainwater
- Pool covers that pool water on top
- Clogged drains on patios or verandahs
- Water storage drums that aren't fully sealed
For water you can't drain
Not all standing water can be dumped — water barrels you use for the garden, ornamental ponds, large planters. For those:
- Cover tightly so mosquitoes can't lay eggs on the surface
- Add larvicide tablets (Bti — bacterial, safe for pets, plants and fish) that kill larvae without harming anything else
- Introduce guppies or similar fish to ornamental ponds — they eat larvae
- Pour out and refill at least once a week if feasible
Shade matters more than most people realise
Adult mosquitoes rest during the day in cool, shady vegetation — the underside of leaves, dense shrubs, behind garden furniture, inside overgrown ferns. Even with no standing water in your yard, mosquitoes from neighbouring properties will rest in your shade and come out at dusk to bite.
Trimming back dense vegetation and keeping yard furniture off the lawn when not in use cuts resting zones dramatically. For heavily vegetated properties, a professional barrier treatment of the resting zones gives you weeks of relief that no amount of yard tidying will match.
Personal protection that actually works
For the hours you can't avoid being outside — early morning and dusk, when Aedes aegypti is most active:
- DEET or picaridin repellent on exposed skin — the two most researched and effective
- Loose, long clothing in light colours (mosquitoes are attracted to dark fabric)
- Fans on the verandah — mosquitoes are weak fliers, a fan at low speed keeps them off you
- Window and door screens in good repair — small tears are big entry points
- Mosquito nets for babies and young children, especially during afternoon naps
Signs of dengue to watch for
If anyone in the household gets sick during mosquito season, pay attention to:
- Sudden high fever (within 4–10 days of being bitten)
- Severe headache, especially behind the eyes
- Joint and muscle pain ("breakbone fever")
- Rash
- Nausea and vomiting
See a doctor immediately. Early diagnosis and hydration are key.
When to call for professional treatment
DIY prevention handles baseline mosquito pressure. Call for professional yard treatment when:
- You're being bitten in your own yard during the day
- You can see mosquitoes rising from shrubs when you walk past
- You have a specific event (party, christening, wedding) and need the yard clear
- Dengue cases have been reported in your community
- You have a lot of dense vegetation that can't be removed
Our mosquito control programme includes yard inspection, larvicide for standing water you can't drain, barrier spray of resting zones, and fogging for immediate knock-down. Get a free quote.
Published 2026-10-23 · Sim T's Pest Control & Fumigation