The San Joaquin County Mosquito & Vector Control District mosquito surveillance system has discovered adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes spreading rapidly throughout San Joaquin County. The latest surveillance data has determined high population of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes in South Stockton, Manteca, Escalon, and Ripon.
“Reporting daytime biting mosquitoes to the District is critical to suppressing this species, which can become quite a nuisance and a potential carrier of mosquito-borne disease,” said Aaron Devencenzi, Public Information Officer for the District.
Furthermore, the District is increasing surveillance efforts by placing extra traps to collect adult mosquitoes and mosquito eggs. Also, throughout September, District staff is going door-to-door in South Stockton, Ripon, Manteca, and Escalon, asking to inspect around homes.
“We will leave door hangers at residents’ homes who do not answer the door. If you receive a door hanger, it is imperative to call us and schedule an inspection,” Devencenzi said. “Our goal is to determine the extent of the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito infestation. We ask that you please cooperate with our staff. This inspection is used to suppress this aggressive mosquito.”
Officials added that District personnel wear tan and green uniforms with the District logo on the shirt. Each person will have a District-issued identification badge.
“We urge residents to remove all standing water and unnecessary containers around their homes and report daytime biting mosquitoes to the District,” added Devencenzi.
Periodically, adult and larval mosquito control efforts will take place in the early morning hours, typically between 3:30 a.m. and 5 a.m.
People can find planned District spray locations and times on the website, www.sjmosquito.org or by signing up for spray notification alerts on the website’s front page. For more information, visit the website or call the District at (209) 982-4675.
If mosquitoes bite you during daylight hours, you are asked to call the District. These mosquitoes are small (about a quarter-inch), black and white, and bite aggressively during the day. Ae. aegypti lay its eggs just above the water line in small containers and vessels that hold water, such as dishes under potted plants, bird baths, ornamental fountains, tin cans, or discarded tires. Second, residents should inspect their yards and dump even the smallest amount of standing water. Be sure to clean and scrub bird baths, pet watering dishes weekly, and dump the water from overflow dishes under potted plants. Also, remove any unnecessary containers and trash around properties.
The first detection of Ae. aegypti in San Joaquin County was from a sample of mosquitoes collected on Aug. 6, 2019, in the Brookside area in West Stockton. In 2021, the District found evidence of this species in Ripon, Escalon, and in subsequent years, Manteca, and South Stockton. Commonly known as the “Yellow Fever” mosquito, Ae. aegypti can potentially transmit several viruses, including dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever. These viruses are currently not known to be transmitted by mosquitoes in San Joaquin County or California.
