NWBRHC

NORTHWEST BERGEN REGIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION

Insect Control

Mosquitoes

  • Fight the bite graphic featuring a tick mosquito and insect repellent bottle
  • A close-up of a mosquito feeding on human skin
  • Diagram of a mosquito with labeled body parts and anatomy details
  • Bottle of insect repellent with EPA registration reminder
  • Mosquito life cycle illustrating stages from eggs to adult

Almost everyone has been bitten by a mosquito. While bites are often just itchy and annoying, mosquitoes can also spread germs that cause serious illnesses such as West Nile virus, dengue, and malaria.

  • Mosquitoes live both indoors and outdoors.
  • They can bite during the day and at night.
  • Adult mosquitoes typically live 2–4 weeks, depending on species, temperature, and humidity.
  • Female mosquitoes usually live longer than males.

Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission does not spray for mosquitoes. This is handled by the Bergen County Mosquito Control Division. You can find the Bergen County Truck Spray Schedule here.

Mosquito Bite Signs

  • A puffy and reddish bump appearing a few minutes after the bite.
  • A hard, itchy, reddish-brown bump, or multiple bumps appearing a day or so after the bite or bites.
  • Small blisters instead of hard bumps
  • Dark spots that look like bruises

More severe reactions can include:

  • A large area of swelling and redness
  • Low-grade fever
  • Hives
  • Swollen lymph nodes

For more information regarding mosquito bite signs and symptoms, please visit the CDC’s webpage on the topic here.

CDC Webpage on Preventing Mosquito Bites

The CDC shares simple steps you can take to keep mosquitoes away from your home:

  • Dump standing water each week — Empty, scrub, or cover things like buckets, flowerpots, and toys so mosquitoes can’t use them to lay eggs.
  • Check your screens — Fix holes in window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
  • Use sprays carefully — Indoor sprays or foggers can kill mosquitoes, but they should be used safely and only as directed.
  • Get help if needed — If mosquitoes are a big problem, you may want to call a pest control professional.
  • Learn more — The CDC offers fact sheets with more details about sprays, larvicides (which kill young mosquitoes), and other ways to control them.

For more tips and resources, visit the CDC’s Mosquito Control at Home page here.

Spotted Lanternflies

  • Join the battle against the spotted lanternfly, stomp it out!
  • Spotted lanternfly life stages: early nymph late nymph adult and egg masses
  • A cluster of spotted lanternflies on a tree trunk
  • Wanted poster for the spotted lanternfly, dead or alive
  • Life cycle stages of an insect from May to December

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect that feeds on many plants, including grapevines, hops, fruit trees, and hardwoods. As it feeds, it releases a sticky, sugary liquid that attracts the growth of sooty mold (a black fungus that covers leaves and blocks sunlight, making it harder for plants to grow). The insect’s preferred host plant is the tree-of-heaven.

What is a Quarantine County?

A spotted lanternfly quarantine county is an area where rules are in place to stop the insect from spreading. Currently, all New Jersey counties are quarantined.