With confirmation of West Nile Virus found in a group of Rockland County mosquitoes, and the recent rain, it’s a good time to review how to prevent mosquito breeding. It doesn’t take much rain to create a welcoming spot for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. And then it is only four days for the eggs to hatch into larvae. Even a small bottle cap will do very nicely to provide a welcoming environment for hundreds of mosquitoes to breed. The message here? There’s no time to waste after a rainstorm. A walk around one’s home is advised to overturn anything collecting water—wading pools and pool covers, fountains, flowerpots, cups, vases, and tires. If the eggs dry out, they can still survive for up to 8 months. In water they develop into larvae, or “wigglers” as they are called by some for their squirmy appearance. It takes about 7 to 10 days from an egg to adult. Then the female sets off in search of a blood meal to produce more eggs, and the cycle begins again. While mosquitoes don’t fly long distances, they can live indoors or out, so eliminating potential breeding locations is key to lowering mosquito populations and… bites!

These bites can be more than just itchy and annoying. In New York State, the West Nile virus is the biggest concern. Some people do not develop any signs or symptoms. But in others it can cause serious illness along with flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, and nausea, especially in those over 50 or who have other health conditions. In 2022, West Nile cases peaked in the New York metropolitan region. Forty-one cases came from the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland, but Putnam was spared. While one might argue that mosquitoes do not carry the same risk of illness that ticks do, they still carry multiple diseases, and one is better off protecting against any bite. Zika virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue and malaria are other diseases mosquitoes carry. So far, it has been travelers that are more at risk for these illnesses.

Mosquito Life Cycle:

• English: https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/pdfs/AedesLifeCycle-P.pdf
• Spanish: https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/pdfs/AedesLifeCycle_ESP-P.pdf