MOSQUITOES and Other Insects & Vectors
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MOSQUITOES and other Insects & Vectors Mosquitoes Africanized Honey Bees © J. Gathany, CDC © H. Teodoro Ticks Red Imported Fire Ants © S. Bauer, USDA-ARS © S. Bauer, USDA-ARS What to do... & Who to call... COUNTY W LES EST GE V N E A C T S O O R L & T C V I E R C T T S O I R D L BO RO RN NT E DISEASE CO Los Angeles County West Vector & Vector-Borne Disease Control District 6750 Centinela Avenue Culver City, CA 90230 (310) 915-7370 www.lawestvector.org CONTENTS GENERAL INFORMATION General Information.............................................. 1 Contact Information Address Los Angeles County West Vector & Vector-Borne Disease Control District Mosquitoes 6750 Centinela Avenue Who to Call...................................................... 2 Culver City, CA 90230 Life Cycle......................................................... 2 How Quickly do Mosquitoes Multiply?............. 3 Phone Number Mistaken for Mosquitoes.................................. 3 (310) 915-7370 Mosquito-Borne Diseases .............................. 4 Website The 5Ds of Defense........................................ 5 www.lawestvector.org Breeding Sources....................................... 6 - 7 Mosquitofish............................................... 8 - 9 Aedes Mosquitoes ........................................ 10 Cities and County Areas Served by Aedes & Mosquito-Borne Diseases .............. 11 the District Aedes Breeding Sources............................... 12 Agoura Hills Los Angeles County* Aedes Mosquito Control Checklist..................13 Beverly Hills Malibu Rain Barrels & Mosquitoes...................... 14 - 15 Calabasas Manhattan Beach Culver City Palos Verdes Estates El Segundo Rancho Palos Verdes Hawthorne Redondo Beach Ticks Hermosa Beach Rolling Hills Who to Call.................................................... 16 Hidden Hills Rolling Hills Estates Tick Activity.................................................... 16 Inglewood Santa Monica Ticks in Los Angeles County.......................... 17 Proper Tick Removal..................................... 17 Lawndale Torrance Protection from Ticks......................................18 Lomita West Hollywood Lyme Disease................................................ 19 Los Angeles City* Westlake Village (*Portions of Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County) Africanized Honey Bees Who to Call.................................................... 20 Mistaken Identities......................................... 20 AHB Activity & Outdoor Safety....................... 21 Bee-Proof Your Home.................................... 22 Bee Nesting Sites................................... 22 - 23 If You Are Stung .............................................23 Red Imported Fire Ants Who to Call.................................................... 24 What is a Vector? Mistaken Identities........................................ 24 Any insect (or other arthropod) capable of transmitting Red Imported Fire Ant Nests......................... 24 the causative agent of human disease or capable of Safety Precautions........................................ 25 producing human discomfort or injury i 1 MOSQUITOES MOSQUITOES Who to Call How Quickly do Mosquitoes Multiply? • Contact the District at (310) 915-7370: • If you are bothered by mosquitoes • For assistance with mosquito breeding sources • For free mosquito fish • Contact your doctor if you suspect you have West Adult Nile virus or any other mosquito-borne disease 7 DAYS Mosquito Life Cycle Pupa Eggs Eggs • Laid in clusters called rafts, which float on the surface Larva of standing water • Aedes mosquitoes Unchecked, one female mosquito can produce lay eggs individually 8 million new biting mosquitoes in only 3 weeks: or at the water line of natural and artificial Day 1 Day 7 Day 14 Day 21 containers. Eggs hatch within days after contact with 1 200 40,000 8 million Mosquito Mosquitoes Mosquitoes Mosquitoes water. Larvae • Develop in standing water Mistaken for Mosquitoes • Feed on organic Mosquito matter • Females can bite and can transmit diseases Pupae Length: ¼” to ½” • Resting stage Crane Fly • Does not feed • Does not bite • Does not eat mosquitoes Length: 1” to 1 ½” Chironomid Midge Adults • Does not bite • Seen in swarms along • Rest on the surface rivers, lakes, ponds, and until strong enough channels Length: 1/16” to ½” to fly, mate and feed Black Fly • Only the females • Females can bite but do bite to obtain blood not have any human public health significance in California Length: ⅛” to ¼” 2 3 MOSQUITO-BORNE THE 5 DS OF DEFENSE DISEASES 1. Drain Diseases Locally Transmitted Remove standing water • West Nile virus (WNV) on your property • St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) • Western Equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) • Heartworm disease (affects dogs and cats) Diseases With the Potential to be Transmitted 2. Deny • Dengue fever • Yellow fever Install tight-fitting screens • Chikungunya • Zika virus on windows and doors to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home West Nile Virus 3. Dawn & Dusk Avoid spending time outside at dawn & dusk Images: © Fotosearch when mosquitoes are Mosquitoes become infected with West Nile virus most active when they feed on infected birds. These infected mosquitoes can then transmit West Nile virus to humans and animals while biting during subsequent blood meals. To report a dead bird, contact the West Nile Virus and Dead Bird Hotline at 877-WNV BIRD (877-968-2473) or visit the California West Nile Virus 4. Dress Website at westnile.ca.gov. Wear long pants, a long- West Nile Fever sleeved shirt, shoes and socks while outdoors Approximately 80 percent of people who are infected with WNV will not show symptoms. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected may develop West Nile fever symptoms: • Flu-like symptoms • Diarrhea • Nausea • Skin rash 5. DEET • Vomiting • Swollen lymph glands Use an insect repellent West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease containing 5% - 30% DEET (N,N Less than 1% of infected people will develop West diethyl-m-toluamide). Alternative Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND): repellents containing picaridin, • High fever • Tremors IR3535, citronella, or oil of lemon • Neck stiffness • Convulsions eucalyptus are also available. • Stupor • Paralysis Read and follow all instructions • • Disorientation Death (rare) on the label. • Coma Images: © Fotosearch 4 5 BREEDING SOURCES Look for anything that can hold water for more than 3 days Trough Neglected swimming pool & hot tub Tarp Pond Tree holes Backyard drain BBQ pit (box drain) Clogged Wheelbarrow Leaky watering rain gutter equipment Tires Toys Water along Bird curb bath Water-holding Storm drain plants & Open boat Containers & water gardens ower pots Rain barrel Home and Garden Checklist o Trash bins: Keep lids shut tightly and remove o Rain barrels: Cover tightly with a fine mesh water that accumulates inside. Drill several drain screen. holes in the bottoms. o Tires: Recycle used tires or store in a covered o Boats: Check and remove water weekly from area. boat covers. o Chain link fence: Cover hollow chain link fence o Fountains and bird baths: Clean or hose out posts with caps. weekly. o Leaky hoses: Replace damaged hoses and o Rain gutters: Keep clear of leaves and other repair leaky faucets and pipes. debris. o Low areas: Do not overwater lawns or gardens. o Potted plant saucers: Don’t overwater. Empty o Drains: Make sure that drains are not clogged saucers regularly or drill holes in the bottom to by debris allow drainage. o Sculptures: Check for water that may collect in o Water bowls for pets: Rinse and fill 1 to 2 times lawn ornaments. Drain or flush out weekly. a week. o Wheelbarrows: Remove water that collects o Water troughs: Stock with free mosquito fish inside or store upside down. from the District. o Tree holes: Be aware that water can collect in o Swimming pools and spas: Keep filter and tree holes and stumps. pump maintained and running. Remove standing o Septic tanks: Screen vent pipes with a fine water from the bottom of empty pools and/or mesh screen. Cover exposed tanks or manhole covers. Report neglected pools and spas to the lids with plastic or a similar material and secure District. in place. Place several inches or more of dirt or o Ponds: Stock ornamental ponds with free sand over the top of the area. mosquitofish. Keep ponds clear and free of o Containers: Store containers upside down, excess vegetation. cover or place in a sheltered area. 6 7 MOSQUITOFISH MOSQUITOFISH What are Mosquitofish? Where to Stock Mosquitofish Mosquitofish are suitable for man-made, permanent sources of water. Mosquitofish should never be placed in any natural habitat such as lakes, streams, rivers, or creeks. Their introduction into certain natural habitats may disrupt the existing ecological balance. Gambusia affinis, or “mosquitofish” is a small, surface feeding fish that is very effective in naturally controlling mosquito larvae without the use of chemicals. Mosquitofish are provided free of charge to residents of our District to place in artificial bodies of water on their property (i.e. ponds and fountains). Fish can be picked up during normal business hours. Backyard ponds Fountains Breeding Behavior Female: Up to 2.5” Male: ~1.5” Water gardens Animal troughs • Do not lay eggs; give birth to well developed, active young • 50-100 young per brood • Breed throughout the summer when mosquitoes are most active Feeding • Can eat up to 100 larvae per day Unused or “out of order” • Do not require feeding if natural food (larvae, swimming pools