Residents warned about Asian tiger mosquitoes

DOWNEY - Local vector control agencies are encouraging local residents to report any daytime mosquito activity and to remove any outdoor containers that may have filled with rainwater last weekend.A single container with rainwater can allow hundreds of mosquitoes to breed in just seven days, officials cautioned. Asian tiger mosquito activity subsided in the winter, but the recent warm weather "appears to have triggered egg hatching and adult biting activity," officials with the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District said in a news release. Unlike other mosquitoes, the Asian tiger mosquito bites during the day and has been known to carry yellow fever and "other nasty diseases." "This mosquito is a game-changer," said Kenn Fujioka, manager of the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District. "We will be pulling out all the stops to eradicate this population." Anyone who spots small, black and white mosquitoes, or anyone bitten by a mosquito during the day, should call (626) 814-9466. Vector officials also urged homeowners to guard against Asian tiger mosquitoes by eliminating standing water; store recyclables inside covered trash cans or sealed plastic bags; remove water saucers from beneath potted plants; drill drain holes in decorative flower pots and outdoor containers; empty bird baths and small fountains every three days; water plants at soil level; and clean out rain gutters to ensure water does not collect.

********** Published: March 22, 2012 - Volume 10 - Issue 49