It was a dark and stormy night, the rain fell in bucket-like torrents, the wind howled like an uncontrolled banshee blowing rain into every outside nook and cranny. After several miserable hours, slowly the storm subsided and in the morning the sun poked through the clouds.  Birds chirped and happily greeted the new day. All is good. 

Beware Standing Water! It is an ideal breeding environment for mosquitoes!  As the temperature rises above 50 degrees and rises to an ideal 80 degrees, mosquitoes will start laying eggs on the surface of any standing water or on damp surfaces that become flooded. At higher temperatures around 80 degrees mosquitoes may mature within ten days!  Mosquito bites can be irritating and in addition mosquitoes can transmit a number of diseases including the Zika virus and West Nile Virus (WNV).  You can prevent mosquito bites by using any insect repellent that contains DEET. Make sure you apply the repellent on all exposed skin. 

The Zika virus is primarily spread by Aedes aegypti, a species of mosquito that has not yet been reported in this area. WNV was first reported in Solano County in 2016 and 2017. Health officials are on the alert for this year.  WNV was reported in Solano County in 2016 and 2017. Health officials are on the alert for WNV.  Report dead birds especially black crows and blue jays to www.westnile.ca.gov or 1-877WNV-BIRD (1-877-968-2473). DO NOT TOUCH THE DEAD BIRD WITH YOUR HANDS.    

Help reduce mosquito populations by getting rid of all standing water around your home.   
Drain water from tires, jars, buckets, bird baths, flower pots, rain barrels, roof gutters and everywhere water accumulates.    

What else can you do to reduce mosquito infestations?  If you live near and enjoy the company of bats you will have a natural mosquito predator.  Brown Bats can eat a lot of mosquitoes but if you are not blessed with these flying critters near your house you have to do your another mosquito abatement.  And bats themselves can carry rabies.  So on second thought, maybe bats are not a good idea.  

The Solano Mosquito abatement district (1-707-437-1116) will provide free mosquito fish for use in ornamental ponds or fountains. The fish eat mosquito larva. You can also report mosquito infestations to the abatement district. 

All Solano Gardeners should carry “Mosquito Dunks” or any commercially available product with the biological mosquito control Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which can kill mosquito larvae for 30 days or more.  B. thuringiensis naturaly occurs in the soil and is harmless to birds, fish and mammals whose acidic gut conditions negate the bacteria's effect. Use products as directed. 

 Mosquito dunks or other products with Bt are an effective way to control mosquitoes in standing water.