Let’s Leave Mosquitos High and Dry!

What to know:

Mosquitoes lay their eggs on the surface of standing water or in places that later become flooded. - Under ideal conditions of warm temperatures and abundant food, mosquitos can hatch in under a week. - In 2018, the NM Department of Health collected the species Aedes Aegypti near the Rio Grande. This mosquito is capable of transmitting Zika, dengue, chikungunya and other diseases. This species can reproduce in just a bottle cap full of water within a week’s time. This is the one giving us all the heartache these days.- The Aedes Aegypti typically only travels up to about 200 yards from their breeding ground – chances are high that you are breeding your own mosquitos. (other species can travel much farther)

What can we do?:

1. Minimize breeding ground!! Eliminate as much standing water as possible andmonitor your areas for habitats. (Mosquitos don’t like chlorinated or moving water)

2. Make your home hostile to mosquitos:a. Create habitats (without standing water) for dragon flies, lizards, turtles, frogs,and don’t kill benign spiders.b. Plant lavender, marigolds, citronella grass, catmint, rosemary, basil, and searchthe internet for other plants mosquitos don’t like!c. Put predators in your ponds – Mosquito fish are sometimes given away for freeby the City. https://www.cabq.gov/environmentalhealth/urban-biology/pest-management/mosquito-control/mosquito-fish-distribution

3. Call the City 311 to report habitats. They will spray with larvicide.https://www.bernco.gov/planning/wp-content/uploads/sites/58/2021/04/mosquitopreventionandcontrol_2015.pdf

4. Fans – mosquitos are weak fliers and don’t battle well in fast moving air. Fans alsodisperse carbon dioxide, throwing them off your scent.

5. Cover rain barrels and any other standing water that you need to keep.

6. Help your neighbors with less mobility or line-of-sight to their rooftops and side yards.

7. Ask for help if you can’t reach or access problem areas on your property. Reach out tothe neighborhood association if needed.

Let's work together to reduce the Mosquitoes in our neighborhood.

Adult:

Larva:

Steve Rowan

Treasurer, Glenwood Hills Neighborhood Association