MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (KABC) — Mosquito repellent treatments will be conducted Wednesday and Thursday in Altadena and Monterey Park in an effort to reduce mosquito populations that create a significant public health risk, officials said.
Teams will use ultra-low volume adulticide and low volume larvicide applications to target mosquitoes at multiple stages of their life cycle to control the population and reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
Extreme heat has cut reproductive cycles in half, triggering urgent treatments to stop the spread of West Nile virus.
Many people associate mosquito season with rainy weather, and they tend to come out after a storm due to rainwater accumulating and pooling. However, experts say mosquitoes can still be active during a heatwave, even without rain.
Mosquitoes only need a spoonful of water to lay their eggs and this intense heat, combined with humidity, has led to increased mosquito activity.
“Zappers don’t work. They’ll actually kill a lot of other insects that could be beneficial to our environment. If you really want to get rid of mosquitoes, unfortunately you have to try to get rid of them when they’re in their aquatic state,” said Anais Medina Diaz, of San Gabriel Valley Mosquito. and director of communications for the vector control district. “It’s so much easier to kill hundreds of little mosquito larvae when they’re in the water than when they’re already flying around and have bitten you multiple times. That’s why we focus a lot on tipping and tossing and then taking action. We want to get rid of that standing water.”
Now is a good time to stock up on mosquito spray and take safety precautions at home to prevent mosquitoes.
Health officials recommend making sure to remove any pockets of standing water that can accumulate in gutters, discarded tires, buckets or anything that holds water for more than a week. And really focus on things you might not think about, like pet bowls, bird baths, and drip trays under outdoor and indoor plants, because mosquitoes can also easily live inside your home. They also recommend making sure pools, spas and ponds are well maintained.
And of course, apply mosquito repellent or maybe grab a stroller band before heading out.
City News Service contributed to this report
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