Rain and mosquitoes

With all of the rain that we have received lately and more on the way, it's understandable for people to be concerned about mosquitoes.  I'm not going to rehash everything here in this post, but I will direct you to past posts on mosquito topics.

I do want to let people know of floodwater mosquitoes which are different from our normal culprits.  I usually get the statement of the "huge mosquito" or a "mosquito that REALLY hurts when it bites" or a "mosquito that tried to carry them away".  These are the floodwater mosquitoes that come out after we have heavy rains.  These mosquitoes lay their eggs in areas that water will reach during flooding conditions (or heavy rainfall).  Fortunately, they can also be repelled with mosquito repellent.  The EPA has a site that can help you choose a mosquito repellent here.

As for other mosquito information, remember the following:

1. Stay indoors during peak mosquito hours*- dawn & dusk
   1. *please note that some Aedes mosquitoes are day time feeders while some Culex are night time feeders in addition to being active at dusk and dawn, so precaution should be taken whenever outside
2. Eliminate standing water
   1. Dispose of old tires or cover them with a tarp to keep off rain
   2. Clean out gutters and downspouts
   3. Bird baths, pet water dishes, etc. should be emptied and refilled twice a week
   4. Store containers so they do not hold water
3. Keep grass mowed to a proper length & vegetation trimmed (mosquitoes like to rest in thick vegetation)
4. Repair leaky faucets or A/C lines that produce condensate
5. In permanent standing water areas, use things like mosquito fish or Bt israelensis (dunks)
6. Keep window screens in good repair
7. Use repellents when going outside (follow label instructions).

For mosquito & mosquito disease information see this page for more information:
http://urban-ipm.blogspot.com/2016/07/mosquito-and-mosquito-disease.html

For information about heartworms (transmitted to pets by mosquitoes) see this page:
http://urban-ipm.blogspot.com/2017/08/heartworms.html

September 9, 2017- What I'm seeing

Insects that I've been getting the most questions on lately are:

1. MOSQUITOES- why are they so HUGE?!

These are floodwater mosquitoes and I'm going to direct you to some great articles that were recently released to provide with all the details.  Click HERE and HERE. 

2. Hackberry psyllids are back!

Have you been seeing tiny fly-like insects piling up on your windowsill?  If so, you may have hackberry psyllids.  These are pretty common around here in the late summer into fall.  You can see my previous post on them HERE.

3. Floating masses of fire ants- EEK!

If you are in an area that was affected by recent flooding events or you are going to volunteer/ clean up in an area, then please be aware that fire ants can float on flood waters and have possibly moved into new locations.  Take precaution when moving debris!  You can read more on this HERE. 

Free Seminar on Zika virus & Mosquito Management

WHAT:

Information provided on Zika virus, mosquitoes and their management.

WHERE:

1600 Smith Road

Austin, TX 78721

WHEN:

Thursday, September 22nd

10AM– 12PM

Space is limited so reserve your spot soon!

512-854-9606

ebrown@ag.tamu.edu

Mosquito and mosquito disease information

I know there has been a LOT of talk and information about mosquitoes and diseases they transmit, but I want to gather a bunch of information (from reputable sources) for you to use in case you need it.  So instead of remaking the wheel here, I will be linking to other good sources of information for you to check out.

Mike Merchant's post on Zika virus & NEW PUBLICATIONS FOR TEXANS!

Mike Merchant's post on do-it-yourself thermal fogging for mosquitoes

AgriLife's Mosquitoes of Texas page

City of Austin Vector Control- "The Rodent and Vector Control program assists individual property owners with eradicating mosquitoes and rodents on their property."

Williamson County Mosquito Control District

Hays County Mosquito Surveillance

Texas Mosquito Control Association

TMCA's list of organized mosquito control districts in Texas

CDC information

Zika virus

Chikungunya

Dengue

West Nile Virus

Texas Department of State Health Services information

Zika virus

Chikungunya

Dengue

West Nile Virus

Hi! Remember me? West Nile Virus

With all the media attention on Zika lately, not many people are discussing (or are concerned with) West Nile Virus.  This disease is still around and may become a concern later this summer due to the hot, dry conditions we are currently experiencing in Central Texas.

Cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) are generally seen in summer and increase throughout summer and into fall.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, most people (70-80%) that become infected with WNV show no symptoms.  About 1 in 5 people develop a fever or other symptoms such as headache, body aches, vomiting or diarrhea; this is called West Nile fever.  Less than 1% of the people infected develop serious neurological illness such as encephalitis (inflammation/ swelling of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation/ swelling of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord); this is called West Nile neuroinvasive disease.

West Nile is generally transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito.  Mosquitoes become carriers by feeding on infected birds and can then transmit the virus to other animals, including humans.  Multiple species of mosquitoes have been found carrying West Nile Virus, but it is predominately transmitted by Culex mosquitoes.  Unfortunately the Southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, is fairly common here and is many times found coming into homes (hence it's common name).

WNV can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, transplants and mother to child via pregnancy or breastfeeding.  It is NOT spread through touching or kissing.

This unused and uncovered hot tub is a perfect mosquito habitat.

People over 50 are at a higher risk to get severe illness, so they should take care to avoid mosquito bites.  If someone spends a lot of time outdoors, they are more likely to be bitten and should pay attention while outside and try to avoid mosquito bites.

Tips for avoiding mosquito bites:

1. Stay indoors during peak mosquito hours*- dawn & dusk
1. *please note that some Aedes mosquitoes are day time feeders while some Culex are night time feeders in addition to being active at dusk and dawn, so precaution should be taken whenever outside
2. Eliminate standing water
1. Dispose of old tires or cover them with a tarp to keep off rain
2. Clean out gutters and downspouts
3. Bird baths, pet water dishes, etc. should be emptied and refilled twice a week
4. Store containers so they do not hold water
3. Keep grass mowed to a proper length & vegetation trimmed (mosquitoes like to rest in thick vegetation)
4. Repair leaky faucets or A/C lines that produce condensate
5. In permanent standing water areas, use things like mosquito fish or Bt israelensis (dunks)
6. Keep window screens in good repair
7. Use repellents when going outside (follow label instructions).

 For a map of West Nile cases in Texas click here. 

Zika virus

I thought I would jump on the band wagon and get some information out about Zika virus.  This seems to be the latest and (not the) greatest in the news as of late.  Considering that the first case of local transmission was detected within Texas in the past week, everyone needs to know about this so they can take proper precautions.

Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.  Currently, there is no specific treatment for the virus, nor is there a vaccine.  The best way to avoid getting Zika virus is to avoid being bitten by infected mosquitoes.  Zika virus can be contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito, through blood transfusions, through sexual contact, and from mother to child during pregnancy.

While the incubation period of Zika virus is unknown, it is thought to be from a few days to a week long.  Symptoms include fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, and headache.  Symptoms tend to be mild and last from 2-7 days. About 20% of people with Zika virus actually get ill from the virus and severe disease that requires hospitalization is uncommon.  Death due to the virus is rare.

The Aedes mosquitoes that transmit Zika virus are also able to transmit dengue and Chikungunya viruses.  These mosquitoes are daytime biters, but can also bite at night.  Aedes mosquitoes tend to lay their eggs near or in standing water, so reducing these sources can be a way to reduce mosquito populations near your home.  More information on reducing sources here.

To protect yourself from mosquito bites, wear light colored clothing that covers as much skin as possible, use insect repellent (read and follow label instructions), use screening on doors and windows, reduce standing water, and if sleeping outside, use mosquito netting.

For more information on Zika virus, please see the CDC website here:
http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html

Central Texas rain and mosquitoes

WOW!  More rain here in Central Texas today....and that is a bit of an understatement.  Work this morning was exciting, if a bit worrying.  We had everyone in the bathrooms for a period of time because we were under a tornado warning.  Fortunately, that didn't last too long for us.  It was good bonding time.  After returning to my office, I discovered water seeping in through the wall and window.  I had to sop up the water and set up a barricade of old t-shirts.  Currently, it's not raining so all is well for now.  Everyone, please be careful and stay safe!

With the all the rain, expect mosquitoes to pop out again.  When it comes to managing mosquitoes, remember the 4 D's.

1. DRAIN- Drain all standing water. Check rain water collection systems (hopefully you have screening to block mosquitoes on your rainwater system), dishes under flower pots, pet dishes, buckets, tree holes and low lying areas in the yard. If you have areas of standing water that it is not possible to drain, try using mosquito dunks (active ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis).
2. DUSK & DAWN- Mosquitoes are most active during dusk and dawn, so try to avoid being outside during the peak times.
3. DRESS- Dress in light-colored clothing with long sleeves and long pants.
4. DEET- Wear some type of insect repellent. DEET is a common insect repellent for mosquitoes and works very well, but there are other options. Other active ingredients to look for are picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. The Insects in the City blog has a great post on repellents.

Check out the Mosquito Safari website for more information on mosquitoes.