Community News

National Mosquito Awareness Week

 

by: OC Mosquito and Vector Control
Published: June 16, 2025

 

ORANGE COUNTY...National Mosquito Awareness Week, which is set for June 15-21 this year, typically heralds the start of mosquito season. This year is no different.

During the first week of June, Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) trapped an astounding 15,488 Culex erythrothorax mosquitoes on University of California Irvine marshland and is providing treatments to reduce those numbers.

Also known as tule mosquitoes, Culex erythrothorax are opportunistic feeders that bite at dusk and dawn and can spread West Nile virus, Western equine encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis.

In addition to the Culex genera of mosquitoes, Orange County residents are well familiar with invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (a.k.a. “the ankle biters”), which can spread dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika.

“Mosquitoes are the most deadly animals on earth,” says Brian Brannon, OCMVCD public information officer. “That’s why you call a group of mosquitoes a scourge.”

Because mosquitoes can fly from one property to another, “Together We Fight!” is OCVMCD’s call to action this season that encourages everyone to unite in dumping and draining standing water.

Residents should follow these steps to prevent mosquitoes: 

• Eliminate all sources of standing water, including water in flowerpots, old tires, buckets, pet dishes, and trash cans. 
• Install screens on doors and windows and keep them in good repair.
• Repair leaky faucets and broken sprinklers that can create standing water.
• Clean rain gutters.
• Report neglected swimming pools. 
• Follow label instructions to apply insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient such as DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. 
• Wear long sleeves and pants, especially while outside during dawn and dusk, when the mosquitoes that can spread West Nile virus are most active.

During National Mosquito Awareness Week, OCMVCD will share tips and educational content on mosquitoessuck.org and via social media. Residents can also participate in the Mosquito Buster social media challenge with prizes including tickets to an Angels game, the Discovery Cube, the Santa Ana Zoo and local cinemas.

Residents can request a free mosquito inspection by calling (714) 971-2421 or visiting www.ocvector.org.