Environmental Health Mosquito Control Program Fact Sheet

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Eliminate potential breeding habitats for mosquitoes

• Clean your rain gutters to allow rain water to flow freely.
  
• Remove old tires or drill drainage holes in tires used for playground equipment.
  
• Check your yard for all types of containers that can hold water - store them inside or turn them upside down when not in use. Examples are flowerpots, wading pools, canoes and small boats, pet food and water dishes, wheelbarrows, etc.
  
• Check for trapped water in plastic or canvas tarps used to cover boats, pools, etc. Arrange the tarp to drain the water. Pump out boat bilge.
  
• Replace water in birdbaths and in the bottom of plant holders at least twice a week.
  
• Flush livestock water troughs twice a week.
  
• Fix dripping outside water faucets.
  
• Check ornamental ponds, tree holes and water-holding low areas for mosquito larvae. Call the Mosquito Control Office if you find, or suspect, mosquito larvae are present.
  
• If ditches do not flow and contain stagnant water for one week or longer, they can produce large numbers of mosquitoes. Report such conditions to the Mosquito Control Office. Do not attempt to clear these ditches because they may be protected by wetland regulations.

THE TIGER MOSQUITO

While there are numerous types of mosquitoes that breed in the County, the tiger mosquito is very aggressive. Tiger mosquitoes are container-breeders and prefer residential areas where shade and water-holding containers are common. If they are present around your home, it is likely that they bred in your yard or the adjacent property.

The most effective method for controlling tiger mosquitoes is to eliminate or reduce the breeding containers that are located in or adjacent to your yard. The removal or draining of water holding containers will produce significant long-term reductions in mosquito annoyance. 4

The list of breeding sites is extensive and includes any water holding containers, but the primary sites in residential areas include: tires, buckets, cans, bottles, boats, flower pots, bird baths, outdoor statuary, ornamental pools, rain gutters, plastic or canvas tarpaulins, children's toys, rain barrels, and pet food and water dishes.

WEST NILE VIRUS

West Nile (WNV) is one of several viruses that cause encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes that acquire it from infected birds. The state of Maryland has set up a WNV Hotline. It is important to note that through December 2000, there has never been a documented case of WNV in humans in Maryland.

Please call 1-866-866-CROW (2769) with questions pertaining to dead or dying birds,
and to also request information on WNV.

RELATED WEB SITES

Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) web page of mosquitoes and disease: 
       http://www.mda.state.md.us
DHMH Mosquito-borne encephalitis page: 
       http://www.edcp.org/html/mosquito.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site for WNV information: 
       http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile

Aedes Sollicitans

Coquillettidia Perturbans

Anopheles Punctipennis

Culex Pipens

Aedes Triseriatus

Aedes Vexans

Return to Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management Main Page

 Revised March 12, 2002