February 2022 Newsletter

MVCAC Annual Conference

A large conference room with rows of dark brown chairs, with large lights on the ceiling, several people sitting in chairs, and a podium and display at the front of the room.

This week, many of our staff attended the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California annual conference. Attending presentations on a variety of mosquito- and vector-themed topics helps us stay up-to-date on best practices and emerging technologies. Staff earn continuing education units (CEUs) to maintain the certification required to be Vector Control Technicians in the state of California. To learn more about the continuing education process for our staff, click here.

Mosquito Surveillance

Adult Mosquitoes

Current abundances of all adult mosquito species are low and consistent with the five-year average. The abundance of adult mosquitoes is expected to remain low until spring. Read more about mosquito surveillance here.

A person in a brown uniform stands in brown vegetation with water. The person is holding a long stick with a white cup on the end (a mosquito 'dipper'). The background is green vegetation, an offie building, several dark green trees, and a clear blue sky. — Vector Control Technician Kim checks an area for mosquito larvae in Redwood Shores.

Larval Mosquitoes

In January, 150 larval samples were collected in the field by vector control technicians and submitted to the lab. Seasonal impounds (areas that hold water for more than a few days and allow mosquitoes to breed) and other freshwater sources that were filled by rainwater in the past few months continued to hold water and breed mosquitoes. A District vector control technician uses a dipper to take a sample of the water and visually inspects it for mosquito larvae. If larvae are present, the technician transports the sample to the laboratory for counts and identification. Read more about mosquito surveillance here.

Service Requests

The most common service requests in January 2022 were for rodent inspections, mosquitoes, and mosquitofish.

Hands under water with small brown fish swimming above — Mosquitofish are small, but they can eat several hundred mosquito larvae each day!

West Nile Virus

West Nile virus activity is generally very low during the winter months. For up-to-date information about West Nile virus in California during the winter, visit CDPH's website.