SD Fight the Bite

Mosquitofish provide an effective and natural method of mosquito control in backyard sources of standing water such as green pools, ponds, and large fountains. The fish eat mosquito larvae before they can become biting adults! Visit bit.ly/mosquitofishsd for a list of locations where you can get free mosquitofish. **Mosquitofish are for artificial water sources only. Do not release them into streams, lakes or other natural bodies of water.

Don't forget the repellent this 4th of July weekend! An EPA-approved mosquito repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, IR 3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is key for preventing mosquito bites and enjoying your time outside!

Kidde pools can be a great way to cool down in hot weather, but remember to dump them out when you are done, or mosquitoes might take advantage! Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as 1/4" of water and can grow from egg to adult in as little as 5 days during hot weather. Learn more about mosquitoes at SDFIghtTheBite.com.

When it comes to pools, go blue, not green! Green pools can become a big sources of mosquitoes. Keep pools clean, or add mosquito fish, available free from the Vector Control Program. Learn where you can get free mosquito fish at bit.ly/mosquitofishsd

County health officials are looking for people who may have come into contact with a rabid bat at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park Friday, June 25. If you or someo...ne in your family or group had direct contact with the bat --- such as touching or handling the animal --- you are urged to contact the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency as soon as possible at (619) 692-8499. See more

Take it from the experts! When the mosquitoes are biting, protect yourself by wearing an EPA-registered mosquito repellent containing an active ingredient such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus. #MosquitoControl #NationalMosquitoWeek #FightTheBite

A big shout out this #NationalMosquitoWeek to the Vector Control Technicians working in the field to protect the public against mosquito-borne diseases! VCP technicians regularly inspect and treat (when necessary) over 1500 known mosquito breeding locations throughout San Diego County. Thanks for all your hard work! #FightTheBite

It’s National Mosquito Control Awareness Week! West Nile virus (WNV) is the most prevalent mosquito-borne disease in the United States. WNV can make people sick and can even cause death. Learn more about how the Vector Control Program is working to protect the public against WNV at bit.ly/WNVinSD. #NationalMosquitoWeek

The County of San Diego Vector Control Program will conduct its third routine aerial mosquito larvicide applications of the 2021 mosquito season on Wednesday, June 23, and Thursday, June 24, to reduce mosquito breeding and decrease the risk of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission. Learn more at SDFightTheBite.com.

Mosquitoes can go from an egg to a biting adult in about a week and they grow even faster when the weather is hot! Keep checking for standing water and dumping it out at least once a week to get rid of any mosquito eggs or larvae before they mature. Don’t forget to look in places like your yard drains or the saucers under your potted plants! Learn more at SDFightTheBite.com! #FightTheBite

Whether you’re just getting in on the houseplant trend or have been growing them for years, you may not have realized that saucers under potted plants can hold enough water to attract mosquitoes! Some mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as of water. To prevent mosquitoes, avoid overwatering plants and dump out any water that collects in the saucer underneath. Learn about more surprising sources of mosquito breeding at bit.ly/SDPrevent

Have you seen a small black mosquito with white stripes on its legs? Are you getting bitten by mosquitoes during the day? You may have invasive Aedes mosquitoes in your neighborhood! These mosquitoes lay their eggs in small containers of water near people’s homes. Aedes mosquitoes do not fly far; their breeding source is likely to be close by - either around your home or on a neighboring property. Prevent mosquito breeding by dumping out standing water and encourage your neighbors to do the same. Learn more about invasive Aedes mosquitoes at bit.ly/SDAedes #FightTheBite #MosquitoMonday

Is there water in your rain barrel? Even a small amount of water at the bottom of the barrel can be a source of mosquito breeding. Make sure all openings into the barrel are covered with screen to keep mosquitoes out, and add a bacterial mosquito larvicide to the water to kill any mosquito larvae already inside. Learn more at SDFightTheBite.com.

Neglected or green swimming pools can cause big problems once mosquitoes move in. Even in winter when mosquitoes are less active, its important to keep pools maintained to prevent problems in the future! Keep pools filtered and chlorinated, and remove debris regularly Keep water from collecting near the pool, at the bottom of drained pools, or on top of pool covers If you cannot keep your pool maintained, add mosquitofish (available free of charge from the Vector Control Program) or larvicide to control mosquito larvae Call the Vector Control Program for advice on keeping pools mosquito free or to report a green pool in your neighborhood!

This month, San Diego County residents can get a discounted rain barrel! Check out the article below for information on how to order your rain barrel, and then visit bit.ly/SDPrevent for tips on how to keep your new rain barrel, and the rest of your yard, mosquito free!

Still need a New Year's resolution? Resolve to #FightTheBite in 2021! Prevent mosquito breeding by checking for standing water around your home and dumping it out! For more ways to fight the bite, visit SDFightTheBite.com.

A mouse collected in routine trapping in San Diego County has tested positive for hantavirus. Remember that if you find rodents in your living spaces --- don't sweep, don't vacuum. Wet-clean instead. Learn more about hantavirus at SDVector.com.

If you're cold, they're cold.. rats that is! When the weather gets chilly, rats will seek shelter inside people's homes. Take some time now to seal up any holes the size of a quarter or larger to prevent rats from invading your home. For more tips, visit bit.ly/sdvectorRats or email [email protected] to request a virtual presentation for your neighborhood group.

Schedule an educational virtual presentation about mosquito or rat prevention for your group, classroom, or neighborhood by emailing [email protected]

Now that it’s starting to get rainy, make sure your rain barrel doesn’t become a source of mosquito breeding! Cover all openings into the barrel with a tight mesh screen, prevent puddles from forming on or around the barrel, and treat the water with a bacterial larvicide to control mosquito larvae. More tips on preventing mosquito breeding at bit.ly/SDPrevent

Neglected or green swimming pools can cause big problems! Mosquitoes lay their eggs in green pools, multiplying quickly! To keep your pool from becoming a source of mosquitoes: Keep pools filtered and chlorinated, and remove debris regularly Keep water from collecting near the pool, at the bottom of drained pools, or on top of pool covers If you cannot keep your pool maintained, add mosquitofish (available free of charge from the Vector Control Program) or larvicide to control mosquito larvae Call the Vector Control Program for advice on keeping pools mosquito free or to report a green pool in your neighborhood!

Beware bloodsucking mosquitoes this Halloween! Wear mosquito repellent to protect yourself against these tiny vampires! To find an effective repellent that is right for you and your family, visit bit.ly/cdphrepellentguide. #FightTheBite

Getting mosquito bites around your home? You may have invasive Aedes mosquitoes! These mosquitoes are known as container breeders - they like to lay their eggs in small containers (and in as little as 1/4" of water). Dump out any water you find, and store buckets, pots, and other containers where they can't collect water. More prevention tips at bit.ly/SDPrevent

Is there a little bit of rain in your forecast for this weekend? For the Invasive Aedes mosquito, a little bit of water is all they need! Prevent mosquito breeding by dumping out standing water after it rains even from small containers like buckets, pots, or children’s toys! #FightTheBite

The County of San Diego Vector Control Program will conduct aerial mosquito larvicide applications on Wednesday, September 30th to reduce mosquito breeding and decrease the risk of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission. Learn more at SDFightTheBite.com.

Noticing rats around your yard? The first step in preventing rats is to remove anything that may be attracting them, such as pet food, bird seed, ripe and fallen fruits and nuts, and cozy hiding places like woodpiles. Learn more rat prevention tips at bit.ly/sdvectorRats.

Make sure to wear mosquito repellent when spending time outside this weekend! Choose an EPA-approved mosquito repellent containing an active ingredient like DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus for the best protection. #FightTheBite

Invasive Aedes mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters! To fight the bite, check these common Aedes breeding sources for standing water and dump it out! For more ideas on where to look, check out our mosquito prevention checklist: bit.ly/SDPrevent

Getting a lot of mosquito bites? The first step is to check inside and outside of your home for any standing water and dump it out! For some ideas on where to look, check out our mosquito prevention checklist: bit.ly/SDPrevent

World Mosquito Day observes the 1897 discovery that mosquitoes transmit Malaria from person to person. More than 100 years later, mosquito borne illnesses still affect millions of people every year. Prevention is key! Dump out standing water to prevent mosquito breeding, and wear repellent to prevent mosquito bites. Learn more at SDFightTheBite.com. #FighttheBite #WorldMosquitoDay

Remember to use an EPA-approved insect repellent with an active ingredient like DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus when spending time outside to protect against mosquito bites!

Visit SDFightTheBite.com for more information about West Nile virus and tips to protect yourself against mosquito bites!

Noticing a lot of mosquito bites lately? Mosquito bites in the day time (especially around the legs and ankles) can mean that you have invasive Aedes mosquitoes in your neighborhood. Take a look around this weekend for standing water - even 1/4" is enough for these pests to lay their eggs - and dump it out! Check our mosquito prevention checklist for more tips: bit.ly/SDPrevent

Is your neighborhood having mosquito problems? Want to learn more about mosquitoes? Request a free virtual presentation from the Vector Control Program by emailing [email protected]

Four mice collected during routine monitoring in the Campo area have tested positive for Hantavirus. Remember to never sweep or vacuum to clean up after rodents in living spaces. Use a wet cleaning method instead! Learn more at SDVector.com

Spending time outside this holiday weekend? Don't give bugs a biting chance! Use an EPA-approved insect repellent containing a proven active ingredient (like DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus) to protect yourself against mosquito and tick bites. More information on how to choose a repellent for you and your family at http://bit.ly/cdphrepellentguide

Keep an eye out for standing water! Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as 1/4" of water and love warm summer weather. Look for and dump out any standing water around your home once a week to prevent mosquito breeding. More tips at SDFightTheBite.com!

The first detection of West Nile virus in 2020 is a good reminder to Prevent, Protect, and Report! Prevent mosquito breeding by dumping out standing water, Protect yourself against bites by wearing long sleeves and pants and using insect repellent, and Report green pools and dead birds to the Vector Control Program. Learn more at SDFightTheBite.com.

When the weather gets warmer, mosquitoes start to move through their life cycle more quickly! Make sure you are checking for and dumping out any standing water around your home at least once a week to prevent mosquitoes. Visit bit.ly/SDPrevent for tips on where to look!

The County of San Diego Vector Control Program will conduct its second aerial mosquito larvicide applications of the 2020 mosquito season on Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28 to reduce mosquito breeding and decrease the risk of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission. Learn more at SDFightTheBite.com.

Prevent and Protect! Remove standing water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding at home.

Planning to spend some time outside? Don't forget to bring the mosquito repellent! Learn which mosquito repellents really work at bit.ly/cdphrepellentguide

#WednesdayWisdom: Don’t over-water plants! Prevent mosquito breeding and only water as needed...or else this will happen Our inspector caught this right on time. Are you guilty of over-watering?

#Mosquitoes can lay their eggs above the water line of your pet's water bowls. Don't let this happen to your #petbowls. Clean and scrub weekly to eliminate mosquito eggs. #NationalPetWeek #TipTossTakeAction

Did you know that mosquitoes can grow from a larva to a biting adult in as little as 7 days? Dump out standing water around your home at least once a week, or for more permanent water sources, add mosquito fish (available free of charge from the Vector Control Program) or a bacterial larvicide to the water.

The new Public Health Officer order takes effect today. You must wear a face covering when you leave your home and are within 6 feet of anyone that is not a member of your household. #StayHomeSD

The Vector Control Program is now able to offer our educational presentations virtually! Members of your organization, HOA, or class can learn in their own homes how to prevent mosquito breeding. To schedule a presentation, please give us a call or email. Together we can #FightTheBite!

Mosquitoes get more active in warm weather, but so do many other insects that do not bite people. If you see a mosquito-like insect bigger than a dime, it is probably a harmless crane fly! To learn more about crane flies and other mosquito look-alikes, visit bit.ly/32pwSYF

The County of San Diego Vector Control Program will conduct its first aerial mosquito larvicide applications of the 2020 mosquito season on Wednesday, April 29, and Thursday, April 30, to reduce mosquito breeding and decrease the risk of West Nile virus (WNV) transmission. Learn more at SDFightTheBite.com.

Wearing long sleeves and pants can prevent mosquito bites, but if its too hot out make sure to apply an insect repellent containing EPA-registered active ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus! #FighttheBite #MosquitoWeek Find a repellent that is right for you at http://bit.ly/cdphrepellentguide

Below is a timely reminder from today's update to take steps to protect yourself and your family against West Nile virus. Remember to: prevent mosquito breeding by looking for and dumping out standing water at home, protect against mosquito bites by using insect repellent and putting screens on doors and windows, and report dead birds and increased mosquito activity to the County Vector Control Program. Learn more at SDFightTheBite.com. #FightTheBite #MosquitoWeek

Trap a pest for #earthday2020. Your yard helps the County trap and identify invasive pests that threaten our forests and agriculture locally. Check out this video to get started https://bit.ly/3cpWJ6M Learn more so you can do more. Visit our virtual Earth Day fair at https://bit.ly/2RGPsrc #COSDEarthDay

Have fun and get crafty while learning how to protect yourself against mosquitoes. In honor of #earthday2020 and #mosquitoweek, the Vector Control Program launched a new web page just for kids. Visit bit.ly/FTBKids to learn about earth friendly ways to prevent mosquito breeding around your home! Explore more of our #earthday2020 activities at bit.ly/2RGPsrc #COSDEarthDay #FightTheBite

Not everything gets recycled! Gloves, masks, and wipes belong in the trash but recycling old containers can reduce waste and even help to prevent mosquito breeding! Even kids can learn how to sort and recycle properly with this interactive Recycle Roundup game: bit.ly/3atJBfz. Explore more of our #earthday2020 activities at bit.ly/2RGPsrc #COSDEarthDay

Celebrate #earthday2020 with us online!. There is a teen GIF contest, FB Live park events, ways to pledge your support to Mother Earth, e-book collections and more! Together, we can help improve air quality, protect our watersheds, recycle more and use less. Visit https://bit.ly/2RGPsrc #COSDEarthDay

You can help prevent mosquito breeding and #FightTheBite by looking for and dumping out standing water at home. Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as of water. Water in buckets, bromeliads, saucers under potted plants, and landscape drains should be dumped or flushed out weekly. Visit bit.ly/FTBPrevent for more tips on preventing mosquito breeding at your home. #MosquitoWeek

April 19th through the 25th is California Mosquito and Vector Control Awareness week! Even now, the San Diego County Vector Control Program works hard to prevent mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus. Stay tuned this #MosquitoWeek to learn how you can help to #FightTheBite.

Celebrate #earthday2020 with us online starting 4/22. We will have a teen GIF contest, FB Live park events, ways to pledge your support to Mother Earth, e-book collections and more! Together, we can help improve air quality, protect our watersheds, recycle more and use less. Visit https://bit.ly/2RGPsrc #COSDEarthDay

The Vector Control Program continues to provide services to the public during COVID-19 including vector monitoring, testing, and mosquito control. Public education and outreach continue through our website and social media; remote educational presentations are available by request. Please contact us by calling (858) 694-2888 or emailing [email protected] if you would like to consult with a vector technician or to report green pools, mosquito breeding, or dead birds. To ...protect the health and safety of staff and customers and to slow the transmission of COVID-19, the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) will temporarily close all public lobby spaces effective Friday, March 20th. Vector Control Program services including mosquito fish pickup, insect identification and rabies testing submissions will continue. If picking up mosquito fish, please call (858) 694-2888 or email [email protected] to schedule an appointment. If submitting a sample for rabies testing, please call ahead to (858) 694-2888 Insect samples for identification can be submitted by email to [email protected] as clear images less than 5mb in size or by US mail to 5570 Overland Ave. Suite 102, San Diego, CA 92123 (ATTN: Vector Ecologist). Include your contact information. Please do not mail liquids. General inquiries can be made by calling (858) 694-2888 or emailing [email protected] For information regarding COVID-19, please visit the County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency's webpage coronavirus-sd.com.

All this rain means plenty of places for mosquitoes to lay their eggs! Take a walk around your yard looking for anything holding even 1/4" of water and dump it out! Get kids involved! Searching the yard for standing water and dumping it out is an easy way to get kids active. #FightTheBite #StayHomeSD

Take steps to protect yourself from #COVID19. #stopthespread #stayhomeSD. Text COSD COVID19 to 468-311 for alert updates from the County of San Diego - Government. Visit www.coronavirus-sd.com or www.sdcdeh.org for more information.

Podemos detener la propagación.Podemos proteger a nuestro personal de primeros auxilios, nuestros trabajadores de salud pública, nuestras comunidades, nuestros vecinos, nuestros adultos mayores, nuestras familias, a nosotros mismos. https://coronavirus-sd.com/pledge #MeQuedoEnCasa

Join us and sign the #StayHomeSD pledge! We can flatten the curve. Staying home means saving lives. https://www.coronavirus-sd.com/pledge via @sandiegocounty #stayhealthysandiego

Now that the rain has stopped and the weather is warm, its important to check your yard for any standing water and dump it out! Some mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as 1/4" of water, so even something as small as the saucer under a potted plant or a child's toy can collect enough water to breed mosquitoes. Learn more at SDFightTheBite.com

The County Public Health Officer's order to social distance and stay at home except for essential trips has been extended indefinitely to match the Governor's orders.

Be prepared. For the latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19) - as well as preparedness tips and other resources - visit the County's coronavirus website: coronavirus-sd.com

We are proud to support the 12th Annual San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering! Join us Saturday, March 7th for Expo Day at Petco Park- a day of FREE family-fun and learning. The Department of Environmental Health will be represented by multiple divisions including Vector Control, Hazmat, and Beach and Bay! For more information visit www.lovemySTEMsd.org!

Drain flies (or moth flies) are harmless but annoying flies that develop in decaying organic matter in sink or sewer drains. Their wings are covered with fine hairs which make them look moth-like. Drain flies can become a nuisance when many adults emerge at the same time. Learn more about drain flies and how to control them at bit.ly/3aeJ4OG

Fungus gnats are small flies that infest moist soil - often in potted plants. Fungus gnat problems inside are often caused by indoor houseplants. They can damage plant roots and can be quite annoying - but do not bite or spread diseases to people like mosquitoes can. Learn more about fungus gnats and how to prevent them at bit.ly/2yFHPZm.

Giant mosquitoes?? If it’s bigger than a dime it’s too big to be a mosquito and is probably a crane fly! Crane flies are large, harmless insects that become more common in spring, especially after a lot of rain. Check out this article for more info: bit.ly/2wN7SPr

Non-biting midges emerge in large numbers from bodies of water when the weather starts to get warm. They form mating swarms that look like clouds of tiny insects. These midges look a lot like mosquitoes but don't bite people - mosquitoes have a biting proboscis and midges don't. Keep midges out of your home by turning off porch lights at night and keeping your doors and windows closed or screened.

Don't panic! Those "mosquitoes" flying around your home may not actually be mosquitoes! This time of year several harmless "mosquito look-alikes" are out in large numbers such as crane flies, drain flies, midges, and fungus gnats. Learn more about these harmless nuisance pests at bit.ly/32pwSYF or check back in here - We'll be sharing info about these impostors all week!

Three mice collected during routine monitoring in Carlsbad have tested positive for Hantavirus. Remember to never sweep or vacuum to clean up after rodents in living spaces. Use a wet cleaning method instead! Learn more at SDVector.com

Rain barrels are great for water conservation! But...they can easily turn into a mosquito breeding source. #FriendlyReminder > Check your rain barrel weekly fo...r any signs of mosquito breeding. Prevent mosquitoes by following one of these recommendations: 1) Placing mosquitofish in the barrel 2) Screening the barrel with 2mm or finer screen 3) Placing bacterial mosquito larvicides into the barrel

Mosquitoes love standing water! Dump out anything that can hold even 1/4" of water to keep this love story out of your backyard. #FightTheBite

Stay on trail when hiking to avoid picking up any pesky ticks! Learn more about ticks in San Diego at SDVector.com!

Rain barrels are a great way to conserve water, but can also end up breeding mosquitoes if they aren't maintained properly. After you get your discounted rain barrel - visit bit.ly/2SDwu4q for tips on how to keep it mosquito free, such as covering openings with screen and using a bacterial larvicide. #FightTheBite

.....which isn't very effective. There are a lot of misconceptions about what works and what doesn't work when it comes to mosquito control. Citronella Candles ...are no exception. Although smoke in large amounts (like what comes from a bonfire) may repel mosquitoes, it is generally not a pleasant experience for people either. Candles don't produce enough smoke to truly repel. And the citronella scent is only off-putting to the mosquitoes in the very immediate radius of the candle. The tried and true way be sure your backyard get together is mosquito-free is to ensure that the area is completely free of standing water, which provides a perfect habitat for mosquitoes to live in. #WednesdayWisdom #MosquitoFacts #TheMoreYouKnow #MosquitoControl #NoWaterNoMosquitoes #FightTheBite #AntelopeValley #Palmdale #Lancaster #QuartzHill See more