Bugged Out: Protecting Yourself from Summer Mosquitoes and Disease
As the summer months arrive, many of us eagerly spend more time outdoors. However, with the warm weather also comes an increase in mosquito activity, and some of these insects can carry dangerous diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that there are over 200 types of mosquitoes in the continental United States and its territories, with about 12 of them capable of spreading germs that can make people sick.
In California, there are approximately 50 species of mosquitoes, six of which carry harmful diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika, dengue, and yellow fever. These diseases can also affect horses, birds, and pets.
For more information about choosing the right insect repellent for your child, see: Ask the Pediatrician: How to choose an insect repellent for your child
You can find a PDF from the California Department of Health that lists the dangerous mosquitoes in California here.
Some studies suggest that mosquitoes are the world’s deadliest animals, causing an estimated 700,000 deaths per year, with the majority occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa.
How Mosquitoes Find Their Human Targets
Mosquitoes have various methods for detecting humans. They can sense body odors, exhaled breath, and body heat. These insects use olfactory neurons on their antennae to pick up scents, allowing them to smell body odor from nearly 200 feet away. Body heat also helps them zero in on their targets.
Recent research indicates that mosquitoes are attracted to individuals with a unique blend of carboxylic acids, which are oily secretions that moisturize and protect our skin. Interestingly, two of these acids are also found in Limburger cheese, known to entice mosquitoes.
To learn more about why some people are more attractive to mosquitoes, read: What makes you a mosquito magnet? Some people can’t escape the pesky but dangerous bites
Natural and Chemical Ways to Repel Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are less likely to be attracted to scents containing eucalyptol, which is found in plants such as sage and eucalyptus trees. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends repellents that contain DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, and eucalyptus oils.
For help finding the right repellent, visit the EPA’s website.
In addition to using repellent, wearing loose-fitting long pants and sleeves can help prevent mosquito bites. Installing screens on windows and doors is also effective.
Controlling Mosquito Populations
Mosquito control in California is primarily handled by approximately 80 local agencies, including mosquito and vector control districts, county environmental and health departments, and county agriculture departments.
Bats, birds, frogs, and fish can naturally prey on mosquitoes, but in some areas with standing water, these predators are unable to significantly reduce the mosquito population. In such cases, chemical control methods are employed.
Pesticides have been used in California for over 70 years to kill mosquitoes. Larvicides are also applied to bodies of water, including from trucks and occasionally aircraft.
One innovative approach to mosquito control is the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) through irradiation. This method involves raising large numbers of mosquitoes in a lab, separating the male pupae from the females, and exposing the males to ionizing radiation to render them sterile. Sterilized males are then released to mate with wild females, resulting in infertile eggs.
For detailed information on the Sterile Insect Technique, visit the Orange County Department of Health’s vector control website here.
While counties and cities are taking action to control mosquitoes, individuals can also play their part. Most counties in California provide hotlines or websites where residents can report mosquito issues or areas of standing water that can pose a problem.
If you wish to report a mosquito issue or standing water in the following counties, utilize the provided links:
- Orange County: Report an issue
- Los Angeles County: Vector control agencies
- Riverside County: Mosquito surveillance and treatment
- San Bernardino County: Mosquito and Vector Control Program
- San Diego County: Pest Management
For updates on West Nile virus case counts in California, visit westnile.ca.gov.
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