Managing Mosquito Threats in Your Rental Community

Special from the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District

The warmer seasons of spring and summer offer the promise of many enjoyable outdoor activities for residents and their families. Unfortunately, this is also the time of year for increased mosquito activity in and around residential settings. Mosquitoes are more than just an itchy nuisance; they can also transmit diseases such as West Nile virus.

Within the last few years, an invasive species of mosquito (Aedes aegypti) has taken root in Orange County and is rapidly expanding its territory. This small, black-and-white mosquito is sometimes known as the “ankle biter” and presents itself as an aggressive, daytime-biting nuisance. Aedes species have impacted the quality of life for residents in Orange County. The Aedes prefer to lay their eggs on the surface of small, water-holding containers commonly found in backyards, patios, and balconies. Even if containers are drained entirely, Aedes eggs can remain viable in a dry state and may hatch years later when water is reintroduced. Aedes species are capable of transmitting diseases such as Dengue fever, Zika virus, and even dog heartworm.

The best defense is a good offense. Residents, whether living in an apartment, townhouse, or single-family home should closely monitor their outdoor space and eliminate all standing water, regardless of how small. Even a bottle cap of water hidden in an irrigated landscape may become a mosquito breeding source. Storing or disposing of any unnecessary containers and debris will greatly reduce mosquito populations in the immediate vicinity.

Property managers can play a critical role in helping to eliminate mosquito breeding in and around properties by educating their residents and eliminating possible sources in common areas of the community.

Personal protection is also an integral part of avoiding mosquito-borne illness. This includes wearing longsleeved clothing, applying effective insect repellents on exposed skin, and avoiding the outdoors at times of peak mosquito activity.

Effective mosquito control is a shared responsibility between residents, property management, and mosquito control professionals. Each has a role to play in the ongoing challenge of reducing mosquito populations. Education is key, with all parties reinforcing the basic strategies necessary to protect public health and preserve a quality of life we all can enjoy.

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Quick Tips to Take Action Against Mosquitoes

• Dump, drain, and scrub any container capable of holding water at least once a week, such as flowerpot saucers, vases, toys, and garden ornaments.

• Be mindful of water which may collect in the crowns of certain plants, such as bromeliads. • Monitor small yard drains which may hold water and consider screening or installing commercially available inserts which prevent access by mosquitoes. • Use control products such as

Mosquito Dunks® or Natular® tablets for small-scale sources which are difficult to permanently eliminate. • Maintain pets year-round on medication that protects against both fleas and heartworm.

Protect Yourself!

• Wear loose, long-sleeved, lightcolored clothing when performing outdoor activities, such as gardening. • Apply repellents formulated with active ingredients DEET, Picaridin,

IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin. • Keep all unscreened doors and windows closed to prevent mosquitoes from entering interior spaces. • Repair any damaged window screens.

• Limit outdoor activities at dusk and dawn.

Work Together!

• Talk to friends and neighbors about monitoring any water-holding items they may have in their yards. • Report standing water and faulty irrigation issues to property management. • Report larger issues such as out-ofservice swimming pools, ornamental streams, and fish ponds to the

Orange County Mosquito and

Vector Control District.

To learn more about how you can prevent mosquitoes on your property, visit ocvector.org.

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