How to identify it
Work down these in order — the first one is usually enough on its own.
- A long piercing mouthpart projecting forward from the head
- One pair of narrow wings with tiny scales along the veins
- Very long, thin legs, often held at an angle when resting
- Females feed on blood; males do not, and have noticeably bushier antennae
What it gets mistaken for
Most people arrive at a pest name by ruling things out. These are the ones that genuinely look similar, and the detail that separates them.
Where you will find it
- Anything holding water for more than a week - saucers, buckets, tyres, toys
- Clogged gutters and corrugated downspout extensions
- Untreated or stagnant pools, water features and rain barrels
- Dense shrubs and deep shade where adults rest during the day
- Bromeliads and tree holes
Signs it is already there
You will nearly always see the evidence before you see the pest itself.
- Bites concentrated around dawn and dusk, or all day in shaded areas
- Wriggling larvae visible in standing water
- Activity that rises sharply about a week after heavy rain
Moderate. Worth dealing with, but not an emergency.
Why it is harder to deal with than it looks
Adults are the symptom. The population is produced in water on or very near the property, and it takes only about a week and a surprisingly small amount of water - a saucer under a plant pot is enough. Spraying adults gives a few days of relief and changes nothing about where they come from.
What actually works
Walk the property after rain and tip out everything holding water, then keep doing it weekly. Clear gutters, fix drainage that ponds, and treat water you cannot drain - rain barrels, water features - with a larvicide. Barrier treatments of resting vegetation help, but only alongside source reduction, not instead of it.
Common questions
How do I tell a mosquito from a mud dauber?
Mud daubers are far larger, with a thread-like waist and no piercing mouthpart.
How do I tell a mosquito from a cat flea?
Fleas are wingless and jump. A mosquito flies and has long trailing legs.
How do I tell a mosquito from a drain fly?
Drain flies are furry and moth-like with broad wings held over the body, and have no piercing mouthpart.
Where are mosquito usually found in a home?s
Anything holding water for more than a week - saucers, buckets, tyres, toys Clogged gutters and corrugated downspout extensions Untreated or stagnant pools, water features and rain barrels.
Is a mosquito dangerous?
Nuisance biting for most people. Mosquitoes can transmit disease, and West Nile virus is present in Texas - if you develop a fever or severe headache after being bitten, seek medical attention.
Identification guidance only. Under Texas law, applying pest control treatments for hire requires a licence from the Texas Department of Agriculture. This page describes what a pest looks like — it is not a diagnosis of your property or a treatment recommendation for it.