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June 2022 Newsletter

White background with orange text that reads "San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District Annual Report 2021" with a large brown mosquito and the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District logo

2021 Annual Report

Would you like to learn more about the District and what District staff do to control mosquitoes and other vectors? Check our our recently completed 2021 Annual Report HERE.

 

 

Midges are out

A midge looks very similar to a mosquito. This is a top-down view of a midge, which shows six long legs, a long thin dark body, two light colored wings, and two very fuzzy-looking antennae

Residents of Redwood Shores have been calling in to report swarms of insects. These insects resemble mosquitoes but are actually midges. Midges swarm in large numbers in late spring and early summer and can be a nuisance. Non-biting midges (Chironomidae) do not bite or carry diseases. However, they may be annoying when they are present in large numbers or come inside homes. They are attracted to light and may come indoors. There isn’t an easy way to get rid of midges, but as everything dries up over the next few weeks you should see fewer and fewer of them. In the meantime, you may be able to get some relief by turning off outdoor lights, especially those close to doors and windows. You should also keep your doors and windows screened or closed to keep midges from coming into your home. Bug zappers (blacklight traps) will attract and kill midges, but might end up making things worse by attracting additional midges to the area. Learn more about midges at: https://www.smcmvcd.org/midges

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