Free AgriLife Publications Give Buzz on Mosquitoes, Mosquito Control

COLLEGE STATION – Heavy rains and flooding from Hurricane Dolly have brought out the mosquitoes and, with them, the need to understand more about their biology and control, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert.

To help educate people in affected areas about mosquitoes and mosquito control, AgriLife Extension has provided fact sheets and other publications to AgriLife Extension offices in Aransas, Bexar, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria and Willacy counties.

“This information is available through the AgriLife Extension agricultural and natural resources agents, family and consumer sciences agents or others at these locations,” said Dr. Mark Johnsen, AgriLife Extension medical entomologist with AgriLife Extension’s department of agricultural and environmental safety.

“The aftermath of Hurricane Dolly has made South Texas a hotbed for mosquito activity,” he said.

There are two waves of mosquito activity which typically follow a flooding event, Johnsen noted.

“The first wave of mosquitoes are flood-water mosquitoes, which include salt marsh and pastureland mosquitoes,” he said “These are generally more of an annoyance than a threat to animal or human health but are still possible disease vectors.”

Johnsen said the second wave, which typically comes a few weeks later, consists mainly of standing-water mosquitoes which breed in stagnating post-flood water.

The southern house mosquito is the most significant of the standing-water mosquitoes because it has been identified as the “primary vector”for spreading West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis, he said.

“A vaccine has been developed to protect horses from West Nile, but there is currently no vaccine for humans,” he said. “There is also no (human) vaccine for St. Louis encephalitis, and treatment is limited to addressing the symptoms of these diseases.”

Johnsen said the best way for people to protect themselves from mosquitoes after flooding is by applying the “four Ds” of mosquito control – DEET, dusk/dawn, dress and drain.

He suggests using a mosquito repellent, preferably one with DEET; restricting dusk and dawn activity as these are peak times for mosquitoes; dressing in loose-fitting, light-colored, long-sleeve shirts or blouses and long pants; and draining, cleaning or covering all containers that can hold water for more than three days.

Johnsen’s new publication “Potential Mosquito Problems after a Hurricane” is available for free download at the Agricultural and Environmental Safety Web site at http://www-aes.tamu.edu . Other free publications available from this site include “Mosquito Life Cycle” and “The Best Way to Control Mosquitoes.”

Additional information can be found in AgriLife Extension publication E-333, “Mosquito Control Around the Home,”available at http://agrilifebookstore.org/ .

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