With Rain on the Way...

MOSQUITO BYTES NEWSLETTER

WITH RAIN ON THE WAY...

It's Time to Dump Out Standing Water to Prevent Mosquitoes. Yes, Even in Winter!

With rain in the forecast over the next couple of weeks, it's important to remember two things:

Mosquitoes can grow in something as small as a water bottle cap full of water.
Contra Costa County has three types of mosquitoes that are commonly active during winter.

Keeping those two facts in mind, it's time to start a weekly habit: Dump out any amount of water at least once a week. If you're wondering what can collect rainwater, well, here are a few items:

Potted Plants: Water can collect in the dish at the base of the planter. If you have potted plants, take a look and dump out the water.

Toys Left Outside: Water can collect in toys that are left outside. If you see any in your yard, dry them and store them indoors so they cannot produce mosquitoes.

Trash: Items like cans and containers that either fall out of a trash can or never quite make it into the recycle bin can collect water and produce mosquitoes. Dump out the water and dispose of trash and other items properly.

Buckets: Buckets left outdoors can fill with rainwater and produce many mosquitoes, so dump them out and store them in a shed or garage to prevent them from collecting more rainwater and producing more mosquitoes.

Why is it so important that you dump out standing water at least once a week? Because water plays an important role in mosquito growth. Mosquitoes need it to grow from eggs to adults.

Female mosquitoes lay eggs that stick together in "rafts" or individual eggs, and they lay them in or near water.
Typically, young mosquitoes, known as larvae, emerge from the eggs within days or weeks, depending on the mosquito species, and then they grow until they develop into pupae.
Within a day or two after becoming pupae, adult mosquitoes emerge.
Once their wings dry, the adult mosquitoes fly away, and the females look for a person or animal to bite and feed on their blood.

Typically, the process from egg to adult takes 5 - 14 days. It all depends upon the mosquito species and the temperature because the warmer the weather, the faster mosquitoes can grow from egg to adult.

The bottom line is, as California's annual rainy season continues, it's more important than ever for Contra Costa County residents to dump out ANY amount of standing water on your property at least once per week year-round to prevent mosquitoes.

Here in Contra Costa County, there are 23 types of native mosquitoes, but there's a new mosquito that has shown up in recent years. It's a non-native mosquito named Aedes aegypti, it is spreading across California, and has shown up in Antioch. This mosquito can transmit the viruses that cause dangerous diseases, including Zika, Dengue fever, and Chikungunya, so by dumping out rainwater, you help prevent this dangerous mosquito as well.

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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