Copy
View this email in your browser
New Year, New Mosquito Worries

Invasive Aedes mosquitoes have been spreading through California for a while now, but in 2019 they came even closer to the Bay Area. Aedes aegypti, the primary mosquito vector of viruses like chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever, and Zika, was discovered in Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus Counties for the first time. With this mosquito on the move, it's likely to show up in the Bay Area - maybe even right here in San Mateo County - in the near future.

While we may not be able to stop Aedes aegypti from making its way to the Bay Area, SMCMVCD and other local districts hope that with early detection and the public's cooperation, we may be able to stop it from spreading further or even eliminate it completely. You can help out by keeping an eye out for this invasive mosquito, and reporting suspected sightings promptly. Watch for unusual mosquito problems, like mosquitoes that bite during the daytime or mosquito breeding indoors.

When invasive Aedes aegypti arrives in the Bay Area, we don't know where it will show up first. What we do know is that we're working to be as prepared for its arrival as we can possibly be. Read more about invasive Aedes mosquitoes and the risks they pose.

Ant Invasions are No Picnic

We aren't the only ones who like to be indoors when it's cold and wet outside. Argentine ants are active year-round in the Bay Area, but you're more likely to find them indoors in the winter when their outdoor nests are flooded by rain. One moment everything is fine, the next a colony of ants has moved into your home and is raiding your kitchen.

This seasonal pest is easy to kill but hard to defeat. Trails of foraging ants can be wiped up with a damp soapy sponge or even vacuumed up - no need for an insecticide spray - but more ants may appear later. If so, you can use an ant bait to eliminate the infestation. These products are designed for foraging ants to carry back to the nest, killing the queen and the entire colony.

Once the ant invasion stops, you can help prevent future infestations by sealing up cracks and crevices where ants can find their way in, and making sure to clean up any food spills promptly and thoroughly. Learn more about ants.

News
Holiday Office Hours
The District office will be closed on January 18th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and on February 10th in observance of Lincoln's Birthday. View the District calendar.
West Nile Virus Update
In the 2019 calendar year, the District closed out one of its lowest seasons for West Nile virus activity since the virus first appeared in San Mateo County in 2004. No virus was detected in the county this year in any of the standard WNV surveillance indicators.

In 2019, West Nile virus was detected in 34 counties in California. To date, 214 human cases of WNV have been reported from 25 counties. Six WNV-related fatalities were reported from California in 2019, including one from Santa Clara County. No human cases have been reported from San Mateo County. Read more.
Mosquito Population Update
Adult mosquito counts for all species continue to decline as we progress into the cooler season. Culex pipiens, the northern house mosquito, was the most abundant mosquito collected this month and was collected in above average numbers. This December, 68 larval samples were collected in the field by vector control technicians and identified by the lab. The most frequently occurring species in larval samples was Aedes washinoi, the woodland pond mosquito, found in 26 of the 68 samples. Read more.
Our Work by the Numbers
2019 was a busy year! Technicians responded to more than 3700 resident service requests, including 1100 reports of mosquitoes or standing water, 1900 yellowjacket and wasp nests, and 350 rodent inspections. Read more.
Request Service
Board Meeting Materials
Finance Reports
The Real Wet Bandits
Living in California, we often welcome the rainy season as a sign that we won’t have to water the plants in the yard, but did you know that there are many insects that welcome the rain as well? Outside, the influx of water may trigger some insects to hatch from eggs, others to begin searching for food, and still others to spread out and seek new places to live.
Inside our homes, the increase in humidity and warmth that occurs when we shut our windows and doors can trigger new behaviors for the insects we share our living spaces with. High humidity inside the home not only can increase population sizes of commensal insects, but cause an increase in activity as well. Learn more about species that thrive in humid environments.
Copyright © 2020 San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
Facebook
Twitter
Website
Email
YouTube