Mosquitoes B The Asian tiger mosquito, · try almost anything to keep mosquitoes away. The trouble...
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B ug zappers, citronella candles, purple martins, and “mosquito-repelling” plants - people will try almost anything to keep mosquitoes away. The trouble is that few of these remedies work. Mosqui- toes are attracted to heat and carbon dioxide, not ultravio- let light used in bug zappers. Citronella candles don’t contain enough repellent to make a difference. Purple martins eat larger insects, such as dragonflies, which are also enemies of mosquitoes. And plants sold as mosquito plants do not contain enough repellent to be effective. Effective Personal Protection To reduce mosquito bites, use repellents (the most effec- tive ones contain DEET) and wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark-colored clothing, so wear light-colored clothing when outdoors. Another way to reduce your chance of being bitten is to avoid wearing perfume, cologne, and hair spray when you know you will be spending time outdoors - they attract mosquitoes. To prevent mosquitoes from entering your house, check window and door screens and repair any holes, even the small ones. Problem Mosquitoes Of the 49 different species of mosquitoes that inhabit the Tennessee Valley, only 17 species cause most of the problems for humans. Most of these are nuisance mos- quitoes; however, a few kinds do have the ability to transmit diseases. One such mosquito is known as the malaria mosquito, Auepheles quadrimaculatis. Even though malaria has been eliminated from the Tennessee Valley, this mosquito is still present and not only is it an annoying biter, it carries the potential of transmitting malaria. TVA’s Mosquito Management Team is responsible for monitoring mosquitoes in the Tennessee Valley that are a threat to the health of the human population. For additional information, call the team at 1-800-288-2483. Please report illegal dumping or discharges in streams, ditches, catch basins, or streets to the City of Knoxville Water Quality Hotline at (865) 215-4147. Anonymous calls are welcome. Other Contacts: Knox County Health Department Mosquito Control (865) 215-5200 For other water quality concerns in the City of Knoxville, please call (865) 215-2148 The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes alhopistus, is a recent arrival in the Valley. It is small, black, and has silvery white spots on its legs and a narrow white stripe on its back between the wings. Now the most common “back- yard” mosquito in the Tennessee Valley, it bites mainly in mid to late afternoon and lays its eggs in many types of containers. So far, the Asian tiger mosquito hasn’t trans- mitted any diseases to humans in the United States, but scientists are keeping an eye on this species because it is capable of carrying several viruses, including dengue, an infectious tropical disease. TVA, along with states and other agencies, actively monitor mosquito population levels which permits early detection of West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, LaCrosse encephalitis, and other viruses that are capable of being transmitted to humans by 10 species of mosqui- toes in the Valley. Additionally, surveillance of several mosquito species, with an ability to transmit diseases such as dog heartworm and eastern equine encephalitis to pets and livestock, is routinely performed. Controlling Mosquitoes Elimination of mosquito breeding habitat is the most cost-effective and environmentally sound method of controlling mosquitoes. The second most effective way is to kill them before they become adults, that is, in the aquatic larval stage. Adult mosquito control can be effective, but only for a short time as sprays dissipate quickly and new adults fly into the area. When controlling mosquitoes in the larval stage, preven- tive measures should begin during the latter part of March or the first of April in the Tennessee Valley, and continue through fall as new generations emerge. Mosquitoes IN THE TENNESSEE VALLEY Mosquito larva monitoring
Transcript of Mosquitoes B The Asian tiger mosquito, · try almost anything to keep mosquitoes away. The trouble...
Bug zappers, citronella candles, purple martins,and “mosquito-repelling” plants - people willtry almost anything to keep mosquitoes away.
The trouble is that few of these remedies work. Mosqui-toes are attracted to heat and carbon dioxide, not ultravio-let light used in bug zappers. Citronella candles don’tcontain enough repellent to make a difference. Purplemartins eat larger insects, such as dragonflies, which arealso enemies of mosquitoes. And plants sold as mosquitoplants do not contain enough repellent to be effective.
Effective Personal ProtectionTo reduce mosquito bites, use repellents (the most effec-tive ones contain DEET) and wear long-sleeved shirtsand long pants. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark-coloredclothing, so wear light-colored clothing when outdoors.Another way to reduce your chance of being bitten is toavoid wearing perfume, cologne, and hair spray when youknow you will be spending time outdoors - they attractmosquitoes. To prevent mosquitoes from entering yourhouse, check window and door screens and repair anyholes, even the small ones.
Problem MosquitoesOf the 49 different species of mosquitoes that inhabit theTennessee Valley, only 17 species cause most of theproblems for humans. Most of these are nuisance mos-quitoes; however, a few kinds do have the ability totransmit diseases.
One such mosquito is known as the malaria mosquito,Auepheles quadrimaculatis. Even though malaria has beeneliminated from the Tennessee Valley, this mosquito isstill present and not only is it an annoying biter, it carriesthe potential of transmitting malaria.
TVA’s Mosquito Management Teamis responsible for monitoringmosquitoes in the TennesseeValley that are a threat to thehealth of the humanpopulation. For additionalinformation, call the team at1-800-288-2483.
Please report illegaldumping or discharges in streams, ditches, catchbasins, or streets to the City of Knoxville WaterQuality Hotline at (865) 215-4147. Anonymous callsare welcome.
Other Contacts:
Knox County Health Department Mosquito Control(865) 215-5200
For other water quality concerns in theCity of Knoxville, please call (865) 215-2148
The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes alhopistus, is a recentarrival in the Valley. It is small, black, and has silverywhite spots on its legs and a narrow white stripe on itsback between the wings. Now the most common “back-yard” mosquito in the Tennessee Valley, it bites mainly inmid to late afternoon and lays its eggs in many types ofcontainers. So far, the Asian tiger mosquito hasn’t trans-mitted any diseases to humans in the United States, butscientists are keeping an eye on this species because it iscapable of carrying several viruses, including dengue, aninfectious tropical disease.
TVA, along with states and other agencies, activelymonitor mosquito population levels which permits earlydetection of West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis,LaCrosse encephalitis, and other viruses that are capableof being transmitted to humans by 10 species of mosqui-toes in the Valley. Additionally, surveillance of severalmosquito species, with an ability to transmit diseases suchas dog heartworm and eastern equine encephalitis to petsand livestock, is routinely performed.
Controlling MosquitoesElimination of mosquito breeding habitat is the mostcost-effective and environmentally sound method ofcontrolling mosquitoes. The second most effective way isto kill them before they become adults, that is, in theaquatic larval stage. Adult mosquito control can beeffective, but only for a short time as sprays dissipatequickly and new adults fly into the area.
When controlling mosquitoes in the larval stage, preven-tive measures should begin during the latter part ofMarch or the first of April in the Tennessee Valley, andcontinue through fall as new generations emerge.
MosquitoesI N T H E T E N N E S S E E VA L L E Y
Mosquito larva monitoring
Mosquitoes that lay their eggs in tree holes, old tires,buckets, cans, etc., that hold water for at least eight daysare called container mosquitoes. By eliminating breedinghabitat you can help minimize potential problems thatcan occur with container species. If you have containermosquitoes:
••••• Scout your property for anything that might holdwater, old tires, cans, pet water bowls, bird baths, etc.,and discard, empty, or clean them about once a week.
••••• Turn unused pails, flower pots, wheelbarrows, etc.,upside down so water will not collect in them; placecovers on anything that cannot be turned over.
••••• Inspect and clean rain gutters and down spouts sowater is not trapped in them for days at a time.
••••• Encourage your neighbors to examine their propertyfor containers because mosquitoes from nearby areascan invade your property.
Mosquitoes whose eggs are laid on damp soil that willlater be covered with water for short periods are calledfloodwater mosquitoes. If you have floodwater mosqui-toes:
••••• Fill or drain low areas where water remains for 5 to 10days after a heavy rain or flood.
••••• Apply a larvicide containing Bti (a biological agent) towater where mosquito larvae are present; be sure tofollow label directions.
Use caution around wetlands. They are protected areas and oftenharbor endangered species and other valuable aquatic organisms.Check with proper authorities before applying control measures inwetlands.
Mosquitoes that lay their eggs in water standing for 3weeks or longer are called permanent pool mosquitoes.If you have permanent pool mosquitoes:
••••• Apply a larvicide containing Bti to ponds wheremosquito larvae are present; be sure to follow labeldirections.
All mosquitoes go through fourdistinct stages in their development:egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Eggs,larvae and pupae require water fortheir survival.
Total time for a mosquito todevelop from egg to adult is about
EGGS
LARVAEPUPAE
ADULT
5-12 days, depending on species andwater temperature. Adult femaleslive an average of 21 days; somespecies may live up to 45 days. Adultmales do not bite and usually live lessthan one week.
M O S Q U I T O L I F E C Y C L E
ADULTEMERGING
Centers for Disease Control miniature mosquito light trapuses dry ice to give off CO2 which attract mosquitoes. Thelight brings them in closer so the traps fan can pull them in.
