Mosquito Prevention and Protection

Irving conducts mosquito control activities year-round but increases those efforts from April through October, the most active mosquito season in North Texas.

The city's mosquito control staff works along with the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department to conduct surveillance and testing of the mosquito population for diseases including West Nile virus. Monitoring for mosquitoes occurs year-round.

Mosquito control efforts include public education, using larvicide along creeks and other stagnant bodies of water to prevent mosquito eggs from developing into adults, and monitoring and notifying neighborhoods where potential mosquito breeding areas are discovered.

See the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) advice for insect repellent use and safety.

Irving’s efforts are focused on disrupting the mosquito life cycle in its early stages. This helps reduce the number of adults and eliminates mosquito breeding habitats through proper water drainage.

Follow the Four D’s

As always, the City of Irving advises residents to protect themselves from mosquito-transmitted diseases by following the Four D’s:

  • Dusk/Dawn – the times of day to stay indoors.
  • Dress – wear long sleeves and long pants when outdoors during these times.
  • DEET – an ingredient to look for when purchasing and using insect repellent.
  • Drain – minimize outside standing water so it does not become a mosquito breeding site.

Residents also are encouraged to call the city’s Mosquito Hotline — (972) 721-3755 — with tips on any stagnant water or mosquito activity in their neighborhoods or around the city.

Limiting Mosquito Populations

Mosquitoes must have standing water in which to begin their life cycle. Almost any vessel or area of standing water presents a potential “nursery” in which mosquitoes can develop. Residents are encouraged to follow these tips to eliminate mosquito-breeding areas from their homes and yards:

  • Keep screens, windows and doors in good repair.
  • Fix leaky outdoor faucets and sprinklers.
  • Avoid overwatering lawns.
  • Rinse and refill birdbaths, pet watering dishes, flowerpots and saucers or other vessels weekly to prevent stagnant water.
  • If the container cannot be easily drained, use mosquito dunks to prevent breeding.

The City of Irving offers free mosquito dunks at Irving recreation centers, at the Heritage Senior Center and at Irving City Hall. These dunks contain bacillus thuringiensis (BTI), a bacteria toxic only to mosquito larvae. When added to standing water, they kill mosquito larvae and last up to 30 days. Mosquito dunks are free to Irving residents (one per household).

The City of Irving offers free mosquito dunks at Irving recreation centers, at the Heritage Senior Center and at Irving City Hall. These dunks contain bacillus thuringiensis (BTI), a bacteria toxic only to mosquito larvae. When added to standing water, they kill mosquito larvae and last up to 30 days. Mosquito dunks are free to Irving residents (one per household).