Mosquito Control in Bakersfield

Kern County has two different mosquito problems now. One is the evening mosquito that spreads West Nile virus. The other is a small, aggressive daytime biter that CDPH now lists in at least 12 Kern communities. Both breed in standing water, and both are controlled mainly by getting rid of it.

Two mosquitoes, two problems

Culex: the West Nile carriers

UC IPM says Culex mosquitoes are "the most important vectors" of West Nile virus in the United States. They breed in standing water, including abandoned tires and flower pot saucers, and they are most active in the early morning and evening. The Kern Mosquito and Vector Control District notes that Culex feed mainly on birds, which is how the virus cycles before it reaches people.

Kern has a real West Nile problem. In 2025 the county recorded 2.09 cases per 100,000 people against 0.30 statewide, and in 2026 CDPH has counted 10 human cases and 128 positive mosquito samples in Kern through October 23, 2026.

Reported West Nile virus infections per 100,000 people

Kern CountyCalifornia

Our West Nile virus guide covers symptoms and the season, along with repellents.

Aedes aegypti: the daytime ankle-biter

UC IPM says California was invaded by two Aedes species in 2011 and 2013, including Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito. As of its May 1, 2026 update, CDPH lists Aedes aegypti as present in 12 Kern communities: Arvin, Bakersfield, Buttonwillow, Delano, Derby Acres, Lamont, Lost Hills, Maricopa, McFarland, Shafter, Taft and Wasco.

The Kern district describes how it differs from Culex:

• It bites during the day, not just at dusk and dawn.
• It prefers people, and one female can bite several times. The bites itch badly.
• It breeds in tiny amounts of water: flower pot saucers, bird baths, abandoned toys, leaky irrigation valve boxes and drains.
• Its eggs stick to container walls and survive drying out, so dumping water is not enough. You have to scrub the container.

If you are getting bitten on the patio in the middle of the afternoon, it is very likely Aedes, and the place to look is small containers holding even a little water.

Standing water: the part that works

UC IPM says that in summer a mosquito can go from egg to adult "in a week or less," so a weekly routine is the minimum. The CDC's version: once a week, empty and scrub anything that holds water, turn it over or cover it, or throw it out. That includes tires and buckets. It also includes toys and pools, plus bird baths and flowerpot saucers.

Bakersfield gets almost no rain from June to September and about 6.2 inches a year (our NOAA data), so most summer breeding water here is water people put out. Check:

• Sprinkler and drip runoff that pools in low spots, and irrigation valve boxes
• Pot saucers and pet bowls left outside
• Bird baths and kids' toys
• Yard drains. The Kern district recommends screening them.
• Pools and spas, or ponds, especially a pool that has gone green

For ornamental ponds and fountains, and for troughs, the district provides mosquitofish. UC IPM says never release them into lakes or ponds connected to natural waters, or into streams.

If you have cleared the obvious sources and are still getting bitten, a technician can help track down the rest.

What a yard treatment can and cannot do

UC IPM is direct about adult mosquito sprays: they "can temporarily reduce the number of adult mosquitoes but have no lasting effect." The mosquitoes that hatch next week from a saucer you missed are not affected. That is why I would pay for an inspection that finds breeding sources before I would pay for a recurring fog or barrier spray.

A visit worth paying for should include:

• A walk of the whole property for standing water, including valve boxes and drains, along with gutters and under decks
• Treatment of water that cannot be drained, aimed at larvae
• A clear explanation of any adult spray: what product, where it goes, and how long the label says to keep kids and pets off treated plants and surfaces

Some products are a waste of money. UC IPM calls electric bug zappers "counterproductive" because many insects they kill are mosquito predators, and lists ultrasonic emitters and electronic repellers as ineffective. Citronella candles work only outdoors with little air movement.

For your own skin, the CDC lists EPA-registered repellents with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone. Do not use OLE or PMD on children under 3, and do not put repellent on a child's hands, and keep it off the eyes and mouth. UC IPM notes that repellents typically last 4 hours or less. Heat and sweat shorten that, which matters in a city where the average July high is 99.

The public mosquito district for your area

Much of Kern County is covered by a public mosquito district. These are government agencies, not pest companies, and you can report a problem to them directly. Kern Mosquito and Vector Control District says there are four districts in the county:

District	Area	Contact
Kern Mosquito and Vector Control District	Bakersfield, Shafter, Wasco, Lamont, Arvin, Buttonwillow	(661) 589-2744, kernmosquito.com
Delano Mosquito Abatement District	About 477 square miles from Famoso north almost to Pixley	(661) 725-3114, delanomosquito.com
Westside Mosquito and Vector Control District	Taft area	(661) 763-3510, westsidemosquitovcd.com
Southfork Mosquito Abatement District	Residents within its boundaries	760-223-3645

The Kern district says some parts of the county are not covered by any mosquito agency. If that is you, it directs residents to Kern County Environmental Health Services.

The Kern district's website lets you:

• Report a mosquito problem online or by phone. Allow up to 72 business hours for staff to contact you.
• Report a green swimming pool. The form lets you stay anonymous.
• Request mosquitofish for a pond or fountain, or for a trough. Allow up to 48 business hours.
• Report a dead bird, which goes to the state at westnile.ca.gov.

I would start there for a neighbor's green pool or a mosquito problem you cannot trace. Call a private company when you want someone to go through your own yard, treat sources you cannot drain, or handle other pests on the same visit. See general pest control, and the area pages for Shafter, Delano and Taft.

We only refer companies licensed by the California Structural Pest Control Board. If you want a technician to walk your yard, ask for a free inspection and a quote before any treatment.