Mosquitoes find you by warmth, smell, and the carbon dioxide
(CO2) on your breath. Some people are more attractive to
mosquitoes than others; this is mostly genetic.
When outdoors in areas where there may be ticks, wear long
pants and sleeves. Don’t wear shorts, sleeveless shirts, or
sandals. Tuck pants into socks or boots, and shirts into pants.
Light-colored clothing makes it easier to see ticks before they
attach to the skin.
The insect repellents that work for mosquitoes are effective
against ticks. Look for formulas containing DEET. These should be
applied according to the label instructions only.
Even very small amounts of water can provide enough space for
mosquito larvae. Some mosquito species need as little as a bottle
cap full of water to reproduce!
How long does it take for mosquitoes to breed?
Under the right conditions, it can take as little as a week for
mosquito larvae to emerge as adults. In general, warmer weather
means faster development.
What’s the difference between yellow jackets and bees?
Yellow jackets feed on other insects as well as nectar, while
bees feed only on nectar. Bees can only sting once while
yellowjackets can sting multiple times. Yellowjackets have black
and yellow stripes and shiny bodies while bees are fuzzy and
brownish. Bees typically build hives in hollow trees high above
the ground. Their hives contain wax combs. Yellowjackets build
round paper nests either under the ground or hanging from tree
branches. Bees produce honey and feed on nectar and pollen from
flowers.
If West Nile virus is detected in the community, the District’s
initial response will be to intensify its efforts to locate and
reduce mosquito breeding sites, increase its levels of
larviciding in those areas in which West Nile virus has been
found, and increase trapping of adult mosquitoes for disease
testing. Reducing the adult mosquito population with pesticides
(adulticides) registered by the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) will be done if necessary to prevent human illness
or to suppress a heavy nuisance infestation of mosquitoes.
The District currently uses a helicopter to treat three
freshwater marshes: Annex Lake (Stanford property), Mills Field
(SFO property), and Sharp Park Golf Course.
At each of these locations, only the water is treated.
When do helicopter treatments occur?
Helicopter treatments are scheduled as needed. You can find
upcoming treatments listed on our
calendar. We conduct an average of four treatments per year.
