Mosquito Control
Mosquito Control Approach
The Environmental Health Division, through its Integrated Mosquito Management Program, implements mosquito control activities. The program focuses on mosquito trapping and testing, public education and the reduction and abatement of standing water.
The City of Farmers Branch conducts mosquito control activities year-round but increases those efforts from April through September, the most active mosquito season in North Texas. Our 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.
The City of Farmers Branch will provide mosquito dunks/insect repellent Mon-Fri, free of cost to its citizens with proof of residency (one per household) and while supplies last at 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.
The City of Farmers Branch will no longer fog areas solely based on testing positive for the West Nile Virus. The spread of mosquito-borne diseases is influenced by both the size of the mosquito population and the rate of disease occurrence. Therefore, it is essential to gather data on the adult mosquito population to implement effective control measures in the event of a potential disease outbreak. The city will conduct fogging in areas where there are at least two confirmed human cases of West Nile virus from different households.
As of August 26, 2025, 13 positive mosquito traps have been identified for West Nile Virus. Mosquito traps are placed in 5 districts (see map below) and tested weekly from June-Sept. by a third-party contractor and tested by Dallas County Health for the presence of West Nile Virus in the female mosquito population. In this respect, the mosquito surveillance efforts designed for the City of Farmers Branch will allow us to map potential mosquito breeding grounds. This will allow city employees to monitor public areas for standing water and will seek compliance with removal of overgrown brush/grass and yard maintenance to reduce areas where mosquitos can hide.
Mosquito Management Areas (MMA) Map
Disease Transmittance
Mosquitoes can transmit viruses such as West Nile, Chikungunya, Dengue and Zika. For more information regarding mosquito prevention, visit the Centers for Disease Control website and the Dallas County website.
The most effective method of controlling mosquitoes is to eliminate any habitat that attracts them or in which they thrive. While the city continues to treat limited common areas, the greatest preventative impact comes from property owners taking measures to control mosquitoes around their homes.
West Nile Virus (WNV) is spread by the bite from an infected mosquito and can be passed to humans, horses, birds, and other animals. As the mosquito population increases, they begin to feed more frequently on birds. This cycle increases the number of birds and mosquitos infected with the virus and therefore the transmission to humans becomes more likely. At present, in the absence of an effective cure against WNV, the mosquito control is the only useful method for protecting the human population from WNV.
Mosquito Control: Fight the Bite
City health officials ask citizens not to give mosquitoes a chance to bite and to take appropriate precautions. City officials recommend following the Five Ds:
- Drain standing water (it only takes a teaspoon of water) in your backyard and neighborhood; old tires, tree holes, pool/car covers, flowerpot saucers, planters, toys, and clogged rain gutters are mosquito breeding sites. Change out pet water and bird baths daily and keep swimming pools treated. Takes 2-3 days for mosquitoes to emerge
- DEET - Apply insect repellent that contains DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide). Be sure to read the label instructions. Spray clothing and exposed skin with repellent
- Dress in light colored long sleeves and long pants when you are outside dusk/dawn
- Dusk and dawn are when mosquitoes are most active. Stay indoors or minimize outdoor activities
- Doors and windows should remain closed and screens kept in good repair to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home
Limiting Mosquito Populations
Mosquitoes must have standing water (just 1 tsp) 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:
- Fix leaky outdoor faucets and sprinklers.
- Avoid overwatering lawns.
- Rinse and refill birdbaths and pet watering dishes.
- If the container cannot be easily drained, use mosquito dunks to prevent breeding.
- Mow overgrown grass.
- Keep gutter/drainpipes clear of leaves and debris.
- Cover Trash cans.
- Keep fountains running to keep water moving.
- Add Western Mosquitofish to ornamental ponds.
- Dump out water that collects in outdoor toys
Biological Control
Many naturally occurring fish are predators of mosquito larvae. Fish of almost any kind will eat mosquito larvae, but mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) are preferred for controlling mosquitoes due to their higher tendency to consume mosquito larvae.
Contact Us
- Report standing or stagnant water online
- Call the Environmental Health Division at 972-919-2539