MOSQUITOES AND TICKS.

Mosquito larvae develop in standing water, and very little is enough: a plant saucer, a clogged gutter, a tarp, a bucket or a rooftop drain. Emptying or covering these weekly interrupts the cycle. Where water cannot be removed, larvicide can be applied to it.

Adult mosquitoes rest in shaded vegetation, so trimming dense plantings and clearing debris reduces resting areas. Ongoing monitoring and any city-led mosquito programs add to what you do at home.

Ticks wait on low vegetation, in leaf litter and along the edges where lawn meets woods, stone walls or brush. Mowing, clearing leaf litter, stacking wood off the ground and keeping play areas away from the edge reduce contact. Wildlife such as deer and mice carry ticks into yards.

Remove an attached tick promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling straight up near the skin. Contact a doctor if you develop a rash or fever after a bite, and ask your veterinarian about prevention for pets. An interior service does not remove ticks from a household.

The Health Department reports blacklegged ticks, which can carry the agents of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis, as established on Staten Island and in parts of the Bronx such as Pelham Bay Park, but not in other areas of the city. Asian longhorned and lone star ticks are found on Staten Island and in the North Bronx, and American dog ticks in all five boroughs. Many New Yorkers who get a tick-borne illness pick it up while traveling outside the city, so the same precautions apply on trips.

For mosquitoes, the city monitors for West Nile virus each season and treats catch basins, marshes and other public areas when needed. Infected mosquitoes are typically present from May through October, with peak activity in August and September. The Health Code also requires property owners and occupants to keep their premises free of standing water, which is the weekly routine above.