
Mosquito Awareness Week, observed April 16 - 22, 2023, educates California residents about mosquitoes and how to help prevent the spread of mosquito-transmitted diseases.
One of the wettest years in history has left standing water across the state, creating perfect conditions for mosquitoes to develop. Stagnant water creates havens for disease-spreading mosquitoes, and mosquito experts are concerned this could be a long and intense mosquito season.
“After record amounts of rainfall this year, it is really important for all Californians to dump and drain standing water that has accumulated in their yards, porches,...
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
- Author: Elaine Lander

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Health Advisory recently in response to increased reports of illness associated with products containing the pesticide ivermectin. Ivermectin is an active ingredient that is typically used to treat internal animal parasites such as roundworms, threadworms, and other parasites, and external parasites such as head lice. It is an anti-parasitic pesticide not an anti-viral. The FDA has not approved...
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
![Adult female mosquito, Aedes egypti. [J. Gathany]](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/41882small.jpg)
The Zika virus is spread to people mainly through the bite of an infected mosquito, mostly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. People can also get the Zika virus through sexual contact with an infected person, and the virus can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her developing fetus, which can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is currently no vaccine to prevent the disease or any drugs to treat it. The best way to prevent Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus, is to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites. Aedes mosquitoes are considered day biters, so it's important to...
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
![Adult female mosquit, Aedes aegypti. [J. Gathany, CDC.]](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/38419small.jpg)
[From the August 2016 issue of the UC IPM Retail Newsletter]
Concerns over the Zika virus have been all over the news lately, so you may be getting questions about mosquito repellents and how customers can protect themselves from mosquitoes.
The Zika virus is spread to people mainly through the bite of an infected mosquito, mostly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. People can also get the Zika virus through sexual contact with an infected person, and the virus can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her developing fetus, which can cause a serious birth defect called...
![Aedes mosquito on human skin. [USDA]](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/35056small.jpg)
You've probably heard about the Zika virus, a recent hot topic in the news headlines. A new publication by the Regional Integrated Pest Management Centers has great information about the virus, how it's transmitted, and how to protect yourself. A summary is below.
How is Zika Transmitted?
The Zika virus is primarily transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes egypti mosquito, a species also known to carry yellow fever. The Zika virus is thought to also be transmitted via blood transfusion and sexual contact, and in rare cases from mother to child. Researchers are currently investigating the link between the Zika virus and birth defects including microcephaly.