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Mosquitos

Health & Human Service  /  Public Health  /  Environmental Health  /  Pests and Animals  /  Mosquitos

Mosquitos

Not all of the 50+ species of mosquitoes in Wisconsin bite humans, but many of those that do can spread diseases. In Wisconsin, mosquitoes can spread Eastern equine encephalitis, Jamestown Canyon virus, La Crosse encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and West Nile virus. There are also illnesses that you can get from mosquitoes when you travel outside of the United States. Some of these diseases are chikungunya, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, and Zika virus. Illnesses spread by mosquitoes can be prevented if you take the proper steps.

Use Repellent on Skin and Clothing

  • Use insect repellents with 20–30% DEET, 10–20% picaridin, 10–20% IR3535, or 30–40% oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin and clothes to prevent mosquito bites.
  • Parents should apply repellents to their children, and be sure to avoid hands, eyes, and mouth.
  • Do not use repellents on children under two months of age, and do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus on children under three years of age.

image of applying bug spray

  • Apply permethrin (a pesticide that kills mosquitoes) to clothes and gear to prevent mosquito bites. Permethrin kills mosquitoes when they land on your clothes. It lasts through several washes after it is applied. Do not apply directly to skin.
  • Carefully apply repellents according to the label instructions.
  • Wash skin that has repellent on it after coming indoors.
  • Some repellents need to be applied more often than others. Find which repellent is right for you at the Environmental Protection Agency website.
  • For more information on insect repellents, visit the DHS Tick and Insect Repellents webpage and read Insect Repellent Essentials: A Brief Guide (PDF) from the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases.

Wear Appropriate Outdoor Clothing

  • Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes outdoors during peak mosquito activity hours. Apply repellent to any bare skin not covered by clothing.
  • Wear loose-fitting and thicker clothing so it is more difficult for mosquitoes to bite through clothes to your skin.
  • Wear head nets if you go into areas with high mosquito activity.

Avoid Direct Contact with Mosquitos

  • Place screens on windows and doors, and check them often to make sure they are sealed tightly and in good condition.
  • Stay indoors during peak mosquito activity hours, usually dusk and dawn for most mosquitoes found in Wisconsin.