When Tropical Storm Hillary left town and left all of its standing water behind in San Diego, the “ankle-biting” mosquito moved in.
Clint Lauter got most of his games at Old Poway Park.
“I got bitten all over my arms, legs, stomach, everything,” Lawter said.
Aedes aegypti was first detected in San Diego County in 2014. Aedes aegypti originally made its home in Africa, but because it loves both humans and temperate zones, it has now spread throughout the world. The mosquito, also known as the “yellow fever” or “ankle-biting” mosquito, is found throughout the county.
They bite just about anywhere, but ecologists say they’re called “ankle biters” because of their preference for low-altitude flight.
“So you can’t actually hear them coming,” says vector ecologist Chris Conlan. “And most people don’t notice until they see them hugging their feet or notice a large number of bites.”
That is the characteristic of this type. One mosquito can bite a person multiple times at once. They can even thrive inside your home.
“It’s not uncommon to see them hanging out under chairs or the kitchen table,” Conran says. “Then you sit down and they come out and try to bite.”
What concerns ecologists like Conran is the ability of mosquitoes to transmit diseases such as yellow fever, Zika and West Nile virus.
There have been no reports of disease transmission in San Diego yet.
“So far so good,” Conlan said. “Knock on wood. I hope it doesn’t jinx you.”
The best way to keep ankle biters away is to remove even small amounts of standing water. Even if you fill the bottle cap with water and leave it for a week, it will become a main breeding ground for pests. If you must be near standing water, use insect repellent or cover.
“If you don’t have some form of protection, you’re going to get bitten whether you like it or not,” Lawter said. “It’s coming. “
Conlan said the pest will remain established in the county for several months before cooler weather slows it down.
