CONCORD, CALIFORNIA – The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District (District) reports a District mosquito trap located in North Concord has collected an Aedes aegypti mosquito, the first since the District found these invasive, non-native mosquitoes in Martinez two years ago.
The District has continued to set traps in Martinez; however, no additional invasive mosquitoes have been found in that area.
Aedes agypti is commonly known as the Yellow Fever mosquito which can transmit the pathogens that cause dengue fever, Zika virus, and chikungunya. The mosquito is very stealth-like, flying low to the ground, and has been called an “ankle biter’ as these mosquitoes commonly bite people on the leg below the knee. The latest discovery was made in one of the District’s traps that are set regularly in North Concord.
“Today, we found this mosquito in one of our routine West Nile virus surveillance traps, which shows that our surveillance system is working. Additional trapping and inspections are being carried out in the area to determine the extent of the infestation and prevent it from spreading,” said Steve Schutz, Ph.D., Scientific Programs Manager.
District employees will be going door-to-door in the surrounding North Concord area to look for signs of these invasive mosquitoes in an effort to stop them before the population has a chance to expand to other communities.
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were first introduced to Southern California more than 10 years ago. Since then, they have moved from Southern California to Shasta County and are established in 24 counties across the state. Because these mosquitoes lay sticky eggs they can be transported to new areas easily. To reduce the risk of these mosquitoes, it is important to dump out any amount of standing water in front and backyards and scrub the inside of the containers to remove any sticky mosquito eggs.
To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, Contra Costa County residents are encouraged to use an EPA-registered insect repellent with one of the following active ingredients:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- The repellent version of Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
- IR3535
Always follow the instructions on the label when using insect repellent.
In addition to dumping out any amount of standing water, residents should also, check window screens to make sure they fit properly without any gaps or rips in the screen.
Contra Costa County residents who experience day-biting mosquitoes should contact the District and request mosquito service by calling (925) 685-9301 or online.
