Valley residents should protect themselves from mosquitos
It’s summertime in the Antelope Valley and that means it’s prime time for mosquitos, including those that carry harmful diseases.
So far this year, the numbers of mosquitos found by the Antelope Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District are on par with previous years, “a pretty typical season,” Community Outreach Specialist Brenna BatesGrubb said.
The district’s technicians regularly check those public spaces known to be potential breeding areas for mosquitos, and “they are regularly finding breeding and consistently treating,” she said.
The primary concern in the Valley, and statewide, is the native Culex mosquito, which can transmit West Nile virus. However, of even greater concern is the non-native Aedes mosquito, first identified in the Valley in October 2018 and which were found sporadically, at first, before being found more frequently starting in 2021.
“It’s pretty much established itself here,” Grubb said, with the species found throughout the Valley.
These mosquitoes are known to carry different diseases than our native mosquitoes, including yellow fever (they are sometimes known as yellow fever mosquitoes), dengue fever, chikungunya and zika virus, according to officials.
The Aedes mosquitos are black-and-white and are closely associated with human dwellings. They are more aggressive than the native variety.
Unlike other mosquitos in the area, which generally bite at dusk and dawn, Aedes mosquitos actively pursue people throughout the day. They tend to bite below the knees, leading to the nickname “ankle biters.”
While the district monitors and controls mosquitoes in public spaces, the public plays a critical role in helping to control the spread of the mosquito population. All possible sources of standing water where mosquitoes lay eggs — such as buckets, tires and plant saucers — should be emptied of standing water. Scrubbing the inside of the containers is also recommended, as this can dislodge eggs deposited above the water line.
One of the prime breeding areas for mosquitos here is backyard swimming pools that have been left untreated.
This season, district technicians are noticing that these “green pools” create problems not only in their own yard, but spread to neighboring yards, gutters and retention basins, Grubb said.
The district previously used aerial photography to identify these problem pools, but budget cuts have eliminated that service. Instead, it relies on residents reporting these unmaintained pools to the district so that they may be treated.
To report a pool, use the online tip form on the district’s website, avmosquito.org, or call 661-942-2917.
The prime mosquito season in the Antelope Valley spans roughly April through October, depending on the weather.
Residents can do their part to protect themselves by following these recommendations:
• Be sure window and door screens are in good repair to prevent mosquitoes from entering the home.
• Clean clutter in the yard. Invasive Aedes are container breeders and will lay their eggs in toys, discarded tires, bird baths, potted plants, soda cans and even trash.
• Check rain gutters and lawn drains to make sure they aren’t holding water and debris.
• Clean and scrub bird baths and pet watering dishes weekly.
• Check indoor plants that are kept in standing water for mosquito activity (i.e. Bamboo and Philodendron).
• Wear EPA registered insect repellents with ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 to exposed skin (as directed by the product label) when mosquitoes are present.