It's Winter... So Mosquitoes are Gone, Right?

MOSQUITO BYTES NEWSLETTER

IT'S WINTER... SO MOSQUITOES ARE GONE, RIGHT?

Nope! That's Why It's Still Important to Fight The Bite, Even in Winter!

The temperatures have dropped, and winter has begun, but mosquitoes are still present in Contra Costa County. That's because the county is actually home to 23 species of native mosquitoes, and so there are mosquitoes that are active in the Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter.

And as we take a closer look at those 23 native mosquitoes, we see there are three mosquitoes that are active during winter: Aedes squamiger, Culiseta inornata, and Culiseta incidens.

Aedes squamiger

Culiseta inornata

Culiseta incidens

Aedes squamiger is commonly known as the California salt marsh mosquito.

This mosquito's common traits are:

Start their lives in: Coastal salt marshes
Prefer to Bite: Humans
When They Bite: Dusk and Daytime
Season of activity: Winter
Flight range: 10 - 20 miles

Culiseta inornata is commonly known as the Large winter mosquito.

This mosquito's common traits are:

Start their lives in: Natural or manmade sources and marshes
Prefer to Bite: Large mammals, including Humans
When They Bite: Dawn and dusk, and sometimes at night
Season of activity: Winter
Flight range: Can fly as far as 14 miles

Culiseta incidens is commonly known as the Cool weather mosquito.

This mosquito's common traits are:

Start their lives in: Natural or manmade sources of water
Prefer to bite: Birds as well as large mammals, including humans
When They Bite: Dawn and dusk
Season of activity: Spring, Fall, and Winter
Flight range: 5 miles or less

So, what can Contra Costa County residents do to reduce the risk of these winter mosquitoes?

As California's annual rainy season is off to an active start, it's more important than ever that Contra Costa County residents dump out ANY amount of standing water on your property at least once per week to prevent mosquitoes.

The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District's Mosquito Service

The District's work to reduce the risk of mosquitoes in Contra Costa County is two-fold. The majority of what we do is to reduce the risk of mosquitoes in public waterways, including marshes, fields, and pastures.

We also provide residential service, so that if, in spite of your efforts to dump out standing water each week, you still experience mosquitoes on your property, contact the District using the information at the bottom of this newsletter.

One of the District's state-certified employees will visit your property and search for any potential sources of water that may be producing mosquitoes or other mosquito activity on the property, and then educate you on how to prevent these issues.

If the property is dry and no mosquitoes are being produced on the property, but mosquitoes are present, the District employee will check for possible sources of mosquitoes near the property.

A backyard container, filled with rainwater,

produces mosquitoes

The bottom line is, there are 23 native types of mosquitoes in Contra Costa County, and those mosquitoes can be present any time of the year.

So, remember, especially during this rainy season, to dump out any amount of standing water at least once per week and contact the District if you need a District service.

And as the District's residential services are already paid for through property taxes and benefit assessments, there is no additional charge for receiving a District service.

Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District, an independent special district and public health agency, is located at 155 Mason Circle in Concord. Contact the District to report mosquito and vector problems online or at (925) 685-9301.

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