Dengue mosquito
Aedes aegypti
Size: 4–5 mm
Black with white stripes on the legs and a lyre-shaped mark on the back. Day-biter that breeds in clean stored water in and around homes. Main dengue and chikungunya carrier.
Pest guide · Machar · مچھر
Mosquito & Dengue Control
Mosquitoes are the deadliest pest in Pakistan. We stop them where they start — in standing water — and add targeted adult control, so your home or premises stays protected through the dengue season.
Introduction
What are mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes spread some of the most serious diseases in Pakistan. Dengue fever, carried mainly by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, surges every year after the monsoon, while Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria and Culex mosquitoes cause night-time nuisance biting and can carry other infections.
Only female mosquitoes bite, and they need standing water to lay eggs. Aedes mosquitoes breed in small, clean water containers — flower-pot saucers, overhead tank lids, desert coolers, old tyres and AC drip trays — and bite mostly in the early morning and late afternoon. That is why dengue prevention focuses on the areas around your home, not just the bedroom.
Effective mosquito control follows the IPM approach: remove and treat breeding sites, use larvicides that stop larvae becoming adults, apply residual barrier treatment where adults rest, and use fogging only when needed to knock down biting adults quickly.
- Size
- 3–6 mm
- Egg to adult
- About 7–10 days in hot weather
- Peak season
- Jul–Nov (monsoon & post-monsoon)
- Breeds in
- Water tanks, pots, coolers, tyres, drains
Species
Common mosquitoes species in Pakistan
Correct identification decides the treatment. These are the types our technicians find most often.
Asian tiger mosquito
Aedes albopictus
Size: 4–6 mm
Black with a single white stripe on its back. Breeds in gardens, plant pots and tree holes and bites during the day.
Malaria mosquito
Anopheles spp. (e.g. An. stephensi, An. culicifacies)
Size: 4–6 mm
Rests at an angle with its body tilted up. Bites at night and breeds in ponds, water storage and irrigation water.
House mosquito
Culex quinquefasciatus
Size: 4–5 mm
Brownish, night-biting and very common in cities. Breeds in dirty water — drains, septic tanks and blocked gutters.
Health risk
Why mosquitoes are a problem
Dengue fever
Causes high fever, severe body and joint pain and, in serious cases, dangerous bleeding and shock. Pakistan sees major dengue outbreaks almost every post-monsoon season.
Malaria
Spread by Anopheles mosquitoes; causes recurring fever and chills and can be life-threatening without treatment.
Chikungunya
A viral infection carried by Aedes mosquitoes that causes fever and joint pain lasting weeks or months.
Sleep loss & skin irritation
Night-biting Culex mosquitoes disturb sleep; scratched bites can become infected, especially in children.
Warning signs
Signs of a mosquito infestation
- Mosquitoes biting in daytime near plants, lawns and shaded corners (a dengue warning sign)
- Wriggling larvae in water tanks, buckets, coolers or pot saucers
- Clouds of mosquitoes near drains, gutters or construction sites
- Bites on ankles and legs in the morning or evening
Solution for this pest
How PestVira gets rid of mosquitoes
Our Integrated Pest Management process for mosquitoes — the least-hazardous effective method, applied exactly where it is needed.
Breeding-site survey
We walk your property to find every place water collects — roofs, tanks, coolers, planters, drains, basements and construction areas — and mark them on a checklist.
Source reduction plan
Together we remove what can be removed, cover water storage, and plan larvicide for water that cannot be drained.
Larviciding + barrier spray
Larvicides (including biological options such as Bti) stop larvae developing. A residual barrier spray is applied to shaded vegetation, walls and resting spots where adult mosquitoes hide.
Fogging & seasonal monitoring
Where adult numbers are high, ULV fogging knocks them down quickly. Scheduled visits through the monsoon and dengue season keep breeding under control.
Treatment methods we use
Breeding-site eliminationLarviciding (incl. biological Bti)Residual barrier sprayULV fogging / thermal foggingSeasonal anti-dengue programmes
Prevention
How to prevent mosquitoes
- Empty, scrub and dry water containers, pot saucers and coolers at least weekly.
- Keep overhead and underground tanks tightly covered.
- Clear roof gutters and don’t let water stand on flat roofs.
- Install mesh screens on windows and doors; use bed nets.
- Wear long sleeves and use repellent in the morning and evening.
- Dispose of old tyres, cans and bottles that collect rainwater.
People also ask
Mosquitoes: questions people ask
Answers to the most searched questions about mosquitoes in Pakistan.
Ask us a questionWhich mosquito spreads dengue in Pakistan?
Dengue is spread mainly by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, and also by Aedes albopictus. They are black with white stripes on the legs, bite during the day, and breed in clean standing water around homes.
When is dengue season in Pakistan?
Cases usually rise after the monsoon rains, from about August to November, and fall as temperatures drop in winter. Prevention works best when breeding sites are treated before and during the monsoon.
Is fogging enough to control mosquitoes?
No. Fogging kills adult mosquitoes that are flying at the time, but it does not affect larvae in water, so numbers return within days. Lasting control needs breeding-site removal, larviciding and residual treatment, with fogging used as support.
Is mosquito spray safe for children and pets?
Professional products are applied outdoors and on resting surfaces at label rates. We ask families to keep children and pets indoors during spraying and until treated areas are dry, then normal use can resume.
How often should mosquito treatment be done?
In the monsoon and dengue season, most homes and premises need treatment every 2–4 weeks depending on rainfall and surroundings. Outside the season, monthly or quarterly visits are usually enough.
What is the best way to stop mosquitoes breeding at home?
Remove or cover any container that holds water, change water in pots and coolers weekly, keep tanks sealed and gutters clear. For water you cannot remove, a larvicide stops larvae from turning into biting adults.
Related pests
Often found together with mosquitoes
Get rid of mosquitoes — book a free inspection.
Our technician will confirm the species, show you where they are coming from and give you a written treatment plan and quote.