On November 1 the clocks fall back an hour. Your evening routine stays the same, but it lands in different light. The walk home from work, the end of your kid's practice and the last lap with the dog can all happen at dusk, when the mosquitoes that spread West Nile virus are most active.
Sunset comes about an hour earlier by the clock, on top of the shorter days already arriving this fall. The change doesn't add mosquitoes — it moves dusk into your usual evening hours.
What changes on November 1
Daylight saving time ends Sunday, November 1, 2026. Sunset comes about an hour earlier by the clock, on top of the shorter days we're already getting this fall.
The clock change doesn't add mosquitoes or make them more infectious. It moves dusk into the part of the evening when you're already outside. If you head out at 5:30 every night, that hour looks very different in November.
Plan around the light
Think about where dusk will find you: waiting at the bus stop, sitting through the end of practice, talking with a neighbor in the driveway. Those conversations always run longer than planned.
Keep an EPA-registered repellent by the door or in the bag that goes with you, and follow the label — including how often to reapply and how to use it on kids. Long sleeves and loose pants help. Before you open the windows on a cool evening, make sure the screens close tight.
Keep the weekly yard check going
The yard check doesn't stop when the clocks change. Once a week, look at plant saucers, buckets and toys. Empty and scrub anything holding water, and flip over or cover what you're not using. Look again after rain or sprinklers refill something you already emptied.
- Empty plant saucers, buckets and outdoor toys once a week
- Flip over or cover containers you're not actively using
- Check again after rain or irrigation — standing water reappears quickly
- Make sure window and door screens fit tight before opening windows on cool evenings
- Keep repellent in the bag you take outside, not just at home
If mosquitoes keep bothering you at home or you find standing water you can't take care of, CCMAD can help.
Request Free Service
Mosquito problem at your place or standing water you can't address? A District technician can come take a look at no cost.