- Author: Anne Schellman
In years past, I would get bitten by mosquitoes when out late at night. But in the past decade, I've been bitten frequently during the day, and this year seems to be particularly bad, possibly due to favorable weather conditions for mosquitoes.
Invasive Mosquitoes
West Nile Virus
How can you protect yourself?
Although day biting mosquitoes can bite through clothing, it can help reduce bites. You can also wear an application of repellent underneath. The CDC recommends using an insect repellent containing the active ingredients DEET, Picardin, IR3535, or the plant-based oil of lemon eucalyptus. Please note, the last active ingredient is not an essential oil.
How to Prevent Mosquitoes
For more in-depth information and tips for how to protect yourself and your family in and around your home, visit the UC IPM Website at https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7451.html
Resources
California Department of Public Health https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/pages/Aedes-aegypti-and-Aedes-albopictus-mosquitoes.aspx
EPA https://www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol/general-information-about-mosquitoes
UC IPM Pest Notes: Mosquitoes https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7451.html
West Nile CA https://westnile.ca.gov/
UC IPM Quick Tips: Mosquitoes https://ipm.ucanr.edu/legacy_assets/pdf/qt/qtmosquito.pdf or if you prefer in Spanish, https://ipm.ucanr.edu/legacy_assets/pdf/qtsp/qtspmosquitoes.pdf
Stanislaus County, Human West Nile Virus Cases in Stanislaus County, https://www.schsa.org/pdf/press-releases/2023/WNV%2023-06.pdf
Anne Schellman has been the UC Master Gardener Coordinator in Stanislaus County since the program started in 2018.
/h3>/h3>/h3>/h3>/h3>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, and patios,” said Assemblymember Jim Wood, who authored the state resolution recognizing California Mosquito Awareness Week. “It only takes a small amount of water for mosquitoes to develop so removing all stagnant water is a simple but very effective way to help to eliminate mosquitoes from our community. Not only are mosquitoes a nuisance, but they can transmit deadly diseases. Let's all work together to fight the bite!”
West Nile virus, spread by Culex mosquitoes, is the most prevalent and serious mosquito-borne disease in California. There is no human vaccine for West Nile virus, a disease which can cause debilitating cases of meningitis, encephalitis, and even death. In 2022, there were 209 human West Nile virus disease cases from 28 counties in California, including 13 human deaths.
In addition, invasive Aedes mosquitoes continue to spread throughout the state. First detected in 2013, they have spread to 25 counties and 300 cities and towns. These mosquitoes are very hard to control and pose a serious public health threat because they can spread diseases like Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever to people and animal heartworm to pets.
According to the California Department of Public Health, since 2016 there have been nearly 900 California residents with travel-associated dengue infections. While there has not yet been local transmission of dengue in the state, it is occurring at California's borders, making the threat even more real. In 2022, the border state of Sonora, Mexico had more than 9,000 cases with 91 people dying from dengue. In December 2022 in Maricopa County, Arizona, two individuals tested positive for dengue, which they acquired locally from a mosquito bite.
“While all of the rain has been great for the drought, it provides mosquitoes with more places to lay their eggs,” said Wakoli Wekesa, PhD, president of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California. “As we work to keep Californians safe from mosquito-transmitted diseases and combat the spread of invasive Aedes, it's critical that residents take simple precautions to protect themselves and keep their communities mosquito-free.”
Mosquito experts say the future of mosquito control requires innovation to protect the public from mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquito and vector control agencies in California are exploring the potential use of three innovative technologies: self-limiting mosquitoes, Wolbachia, and irradiation. More information about the need for innovative technologies and how they work is available on the MVCAC website.
Everyone can do their part to help prevent mosquito bites:
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Apply insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, including DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535, to clothes and exposed skin according to label instructions. Repellents keep mosquitoes from biting. It is important to follow EPA and CDC guidelines for the safe use of repellents on children.
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Dress in long sleeves and pants, especially if outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes that can spread West Nile virus are most active.
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Install screens on windows and doors and keep them in good repair to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
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Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property, including in flowerpots, old tires, buckets, pet dishes, and trash cans. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in very small amounts of standing water.
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Repair leaking faucets and broken sprinklers that can contribute to standing water around your home.
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Clean rain gutters clogged with leaves.
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Report neglected swimming pools and day-biting mosquitoes to your local mosquito and vector control agency (agency information can be found at www.mvcac.org)
To learn more, please visit the MVCAC website or the California Department of Public Health Mosquitoes and Mosquito-Borne Diseases webpage.
About MVCAC
The Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) is the statewide voice for mosquito and vector control professionals. The association provides public health information, expertise, mosquito and vector-borne disease surveillance, innovative research, professional training, effective legislative and regulatory advocacy on behalf of California public agencies.
[Shared from the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California. View UC IPM's Pest Notes: Mosquitoes for more information.]
From UC IPM Pests in the Urban Landscape blog.
According to Gary Goodman, District Manager of Sacramento Yolo Mosquito and Vector control, many residents are anxious and excited to get outside and enjoy the warm weather so it's important to protect yourself from mosquito bites by wearing a good mosquito repellent.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend using an insect repellent that contains the active ingredients DEET, Picaridin, IR3535 or the plant-based oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Aside from personal protection against mosquito bites, it's important to ensure mosquitoes are not breeding at home. Drain stagnant water from sprinklers, irrigation, and rainstorms. Be sure to check your backyard and dump any water in flower pots, kiddie pools, tires, pet dishes, bird baths and other common household containers that can hold water.
Another ongoing concern is the invasive mosquito Aedes aegypti which has been detected in several counties throughout Southern California and the Central Valley. For county level information, see this map. Invasive mosquitoes pose a significant health threat because they can transmit dangerous viruses including Zika, dengue fever and chikungunya. Surveillance efforts have continued since the initial detection last August. To date, no cases of Zika virus have been reported in California.
For more information on mosquito identification and management, see our recently revised Pest Notes: Mosquitoes. Additional information on vector-borne diseases is available on the California Department of Public Health website.
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As summer quickly approaches and we find ourselves getting outside a bit more, remember to take care to protect yourself from mosquitoes.
According to Gary Goodman, District Manager of Sacramento Yolo Mosquito and Vector control, many residents are anxious and excited to get outside and enjoy the warm weather so it's important to protect yourself from mosquito bites by wearing a good mosquito repellent.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend using an insect repellent that contains the active ingredients DEET, Picaridin, IR3535 or the plant-based oil of lemon eucalyptus. Aside from personal protection against mosquito bites, it's important to ensure mosquitoes are not breeding at home. Drain stagnant water from sprinklers, irrigation, and rainstorms. Be sure to check your backyard and dump any water in flower pots, kiddie pools, tires, pet dishes, bird baths and other common household containers that can hold water.
Another ongoing concern is the invasive mosquito Aedes aegypti which has been detected in several counties throughout Southern California and the Central Valley. For county level information, see this map. Invasive mosquitoes pose a significant health threat because they can transmit dangerous viruses including Zika, dengue fever and chikungunya. Surveillance efforts have continued since the initial detection last August. To date, no cases of Zika virus have been reported in California.
For more information on mosquito identification and management, see our recently revised Pest Notes: Mosquitoes. Additional information on vector-borne diseases is available on the California Department of Public Health website.
In the newly revised Pest Notes: Mosquitoes, you'll find general mosquito prevention tips as well as information on the most recent mosquitoes to become established in California: species in the Aedes genus which can transmit Zika virus and other deadly diseases.
This publication, written by UC Riverside entomologist William Walton and UC Davis entomologist Bruce Eldridge, discusses the life cycles and virus transmission cycles of Culex and Aedes mosquitoes.
You will find tips on managing water barrels and other water capture structures to keep mosquitoes from breeding in them. There are updates on chemical control, including new personal use repellent products and outdoor sprays, and a link to a frequently updated map of Aedes mosquito detections from the California Department of Public Health.
Read the full Pest Notes: Mosquitoes on the UC IPM website for more information and continue to stay safe and healthy out there!
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