Mosquitoes
Mosquito control in Bakersfield
If you get bitten around the ankles in the middle of the day, the likely culprit is a mosquito first found in Kern County in 2014.
Calls answered early morning to late evening
Two kinds of local mosquito
The Kern Mosquito and Vector Control District says Aedes aegypti, the "ankle biter", was first found in Kern County in 2014 and is now an established resident. It bites during the day, prefers people, and can bite several times.
Culex mosquitoes are the older local type. They are most active at dusk and dawn and can carry West Nile virus. The district lists around 26 mosquito species in the county.
Where they breed in a yard
The district's list of main sources in Kern County is short and ordinary: flower pot saucers, bird baths, abandoned toys, leaky irrigation valve boxes, and drains. A very small amount of water is enough.
The eggs stick to the container and don't dry out easily, so the district says dumping water isn't enough. Containers need scrubbing too. Green pools are a separate issue, and the district takes reports on those.
What a mosquito visit usually involves
A company will walk the yard looking for water and shaded resting spots, then talk through options. Be aware of what UC IPM says: outdoor sprays can temporarily reduce adults but have no lasting effect, and control should focus on larvae and standing water. So ask what the company does about breeding sites, and how often it would come back.
Ask too how long to stay out of the yard after treatment, and how to protect fish ponds and pets.
What you can do this week
- Empty and scrub saucers, bird baths and pet bowls.
- Screen yard drains and fix leaking valve boxes.
- Store buckets and toys upside down or indoors.
- Avoid overwatering, which leaves standing water.
Seeing something now? Make the call.
Say what you found, where you found it, and your ZIP. The company on the line can tell you how it would handle the job and what a visit involves.
Calls answered early morning to late evening. Calls may be recorded. Referral disclosure