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Uncovered refuse containers and junk piles collect water in which mosquitoes can breed. Clogged gutters will accumulate water and create a place for mosquitoes to breed. Poorly maintained ponds and swimming pools can be breeding sites for mosquitoes. Such items as toys, tires and gardening tools, when filled with water, can provide breeding sites for mosquitoes. Leaky faucets provide water in which mosquitoes can breed. Crawl spaces, attic vents and broken screens allow mosquitoes to enter your home. Clean up leaf litter, but do not rake leaves and other yard waste into gutters or storm drains. Doing so may prevent water from flowing and may create ponds that give mosquitoes a place to lay eggs and develop. Mosquitoes will breed in any untreated water. New York State Department of Health World Wide Web Environmental Health Information: Fight the Bite www.health.state.ny.us 1-[PHONE REDACTED] Box 2000 Albany, New York 12220 2747 03/04 M osquitoes are small flying insects that feed on human and animal blood or plant juices. Only female mosquitoes bite to get a blood meal for their growing eggs. Mosquitoes are generally considered a nuisance pest, but occasionally can transmit disease. There are about 70 different species of mosquitoes in New York State. Several mosquito species have been associated with West Nile virus, an infection that can cause serious illness. Some mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water around the home. They can develop in any standing water that remains more than four days. Weeds, tall grass and shrubbery provide an outdoor home for adult mosquitoes, which may also enter houses through unscreened windows and doors, or broken screens. Many kinds of mosquitoes will breed in discarded tires. Some mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn when the air is calm, and that is when the females are most likely to bite. However, others will feed at any time of the day. You can and should reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home: • Reduce or eliminate all standing water in your yard, and remove containers in which water can collect; • Make sure all windows and doors have screens; and • Keep all screens repaired. How many breeding sites can you find? Do Mosquitoes Love Your Home and Yard ?