MOSQUITO CONTROL AND YOU

Rebecca Riley,

Education/Training Coordinator

Harris County Public Health

& Environmental Services

Mosquito Control Division

HCPHES MOSQUITO CONTROL:

OUR MISSION

The Mosquito Control Division protects the health

and well-being of county residents through

surveillance, control, education, research and

technology to prevent and control mosquito-borne

diseases, including St. Louis encephalitis (SLE)

and West Nile Virus (WNV) encephalitis.

1,778 square miles

• 1,729 square miles land

• 49 square miles water

Population of 4.1 million

(US Census 2010 American Community Surveys)

AREA PROFILE:

DISEASE RISK ASSESSMENT

SERVING THE CITIZENS OF

HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS THROUGH:

Public’s Perception

of the

“Mosquito Problem”

Public’s Perception of

“Mosquito Control”

Southern House Mosquito

(Cx. quinquefasciatus)

Primary vector for St.

Louis Encephalitis

(SLE) and West Nile

Virus (WNV) in

Harris County, Texas

LIFE CYCLE

Four distinct

developmental stages

Egg

Larva or “Wiggler”

Pupa or “Tumbler”

Adult

Adult mosquitoes utilize plant nectar for energy.

However, the female of most species needs a meal

of blood after mating and before laying her eggs.

The blood contains protein necessary for egg

production.

PROBOSCIS

Distinguishes mosquito from other true flies.

Enables mosquito to probe plants.

Enables the female mosquito to pierce the skin

and suck blood located near the skins’ surface.

Female mosquito can feed and lay eggs several

times during her life span.

BLOOD MEAL

Female mosquito lands discreetly on victim.

Quickly pierces skin with knife-like stylets

located on the tip of her proboscis.

Inserts proboscis piercing capillary.

Injects saliva into blood. Saliva contains an

anticoagulant.

Saliva left in the body of the victim may cause

an irritation in form of bumps or sores.

DISEASE TRANSMISSION

Takes place when the female mosquito injects

saliva into bloodstream of victim. If disease

causing germs are present in the mosquitoes’

saliva, it can be transmitted to the victim.

Mosquitoes are known to transmit Encephalitis,

West Nile Virus, Dog Heartworm, Dengue,

Malaria and Yellow Fever.

Primary concern in Harris County, Texas is St.

Louis Encephalitis (SLE) and West Nile Virus

(WNV).

DISEASE TRANSMISSION CYCLES

SURVEILLANCE

•Avian Surveillance

•Mosquito Surveillance

AVIAN

SURVEILLANCE

•Sera

Collection

•Dead Bird

Collection

MOSQUITO

SURVEILLANCE

•Mosquito

Collections

•Testing

LARVAL SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL

Mosquito Identification and

Disease Detection

CITIZEN REQUESTS

•Mosquito related calls:

713-440-4800

•Dead bird reporting:

713-440-3036

•Dead bird reporting

online at www.hcphes.org

INSPECTIONS

Citizen Education

Larval Treatment

if needed

MO

SQ

UIT

O C

ON

TR

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AR

OU

ND

TH

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OM

E

MAINTAIN LANDSCAPING

• When watering the lawn, be aware of

excess water that may collect

• Fill in low areas around the yard

• Keep grass cut and hedges trimmed

• Sweep lawn clippings, leaves and tree

limbs from sidewalks and driveways

keeping them out of the storm drain

• Fill holes in trees with sand or other

filler

MAINTAIN ORNAMENTAL WATER FEATURES

• Stock ornamental ponds with

mosquito eating fish

• Keep water in fountains and

decorative ponds moving.

MANAGE WATER HOLDING CONTAINERS

• Remove empty or invert any

containers that may hold

water

• Birdbaths and flower pot

retaining dishes should be

emptied and refilled or the

water lined scrubbed twice

weekly

• Pet water bowls should be

emptied and refilled twice

weekly

MANAGE RAIN WATER COLLECTIONS

• Keep rain gutters clean

and draining.

• When collecting rain water

for later use, keep the

container “mosquito” tight.

This can be done by using

either a container that

attaches to the down spout

or fasten a fine mesh

screen to a bucket with a

bungee cord to keep water

in and mosquitoes out.

REPAIR WATER LEAKS

• Repair leaking outdoor

faucets.

• Maintain your septic

system to prevent leaks.

• Report sewer and water

main leaks and/or

breaks to 311 within

Houston city limits or

the local water utility.

•Use Mosquito repellents,

always reading the label

first

•Limit exposure to

mosquitoes between the

hours of dusk and dawn

•Wear light colored

clothing

•Wear long sleeves and

pants

PERSONAL PROTECTION

EDUCATION

For more information visit our website

www.hcphes.org

Or contact our office

at 713-440-4800