– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension
The Northern house mosquito has been reported in every Ohio county and spreads many deadly and life-altering diseases. Photo: M.E. Meuti
Mosquito activity is greatest during the months of May through October in Ohio. Mosquitoes are more than just annoying flying bugs. They can be transmitters of dangerous diseases of humans and animals. Globally, the mosquito is the vector of diseases that kill 700 thousand to one million people annually. The most prevalent cause of mosquito related deaths is malaria. While malaria has been eliminated from the United States since the 1950s, there are several other diseases that the Ohio Department of Health tracks and works to suppress including eastern equine encephalitis virus, La Crosse virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, and West Nile virus. Of the 59 mosquito species that inhabit Ohio, only five transmit human diseases. Occurrences of mosquito-borne disease varies drastically year to year and regionally depending on the weather.
Rainy and warm conditions are prime for mosquito development. Mosquitoes breed in still water. Anything that can hold water can be a mosquito breeding site if left undisturbed. Every citizen can help reduce the prevalence of mosquitos by reducing breeding sites around their homes.
The Ohio State University (OSU) and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) encourage Ohioans to take the following steps prevent mosquito hot spots (https://ohio.gov/mosquito):
Don’t let mosquitoes breed around your home:
- Empty standing water from flowerpots, buckets, barrels, tarps/covers and wheel barrows on a regular basis.
- Discard trash such as tin cans, plastic containers and other water-holding containers that have accumulated on your property.
- Dispose of discarded tires properly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out.
- Change the water in pet dishes frequently.
- Replace the water in bird baths weekly.
- Check and clean clogged roof gutters at least twice annually so they will drain properly.
- Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with mosquito-eating fish.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, even those that are not being used.
- Keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren’t being used.
- Consider using products containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), available at many garden and home improvement stores, to control mosquito larvae in containers that are too large to empty. Follow label instructions.
Stop mosquitoes from coming indoors:
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors.
- Use air conditioning, if you have it.
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors.
Support your community surveillance and control programs:
- Mosquito control activities are most often handled at the local level, through county or city government. The type of mosquito control methods used by a program depends on the time of year, the type of mosquitoes to be controlled and the habitat structure. Methods can include elimination of mosquito larval habitats, application of insecticides to kill mosquito larvae or spraying insecticides from trucks or aircraft to kill adult mosquitoes. Your local mosquito control program can provide information about the type of products being used in your area. Check with your local health department for more information.
- Report dead birds to local authorities. Dead birds may be a sign that West Nile virus and other arboviruses are circulating between birds and the mosquitoes in an area. By reporting dead birds to local health departments, you can play an important role in monitoring mosquito-borne diseases. Local agencies have different policies for collecting and testing birds, so check with your local health department for more information.
Learn more about mosquito concerns and preventions through the following OSU and ODH resources:
What Outdoor Enthusiasts Should Know About West Nile Virus- https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/WNV-1002
Mosquito-borne Diseases in Ohio- https://ohio.gov/mosquito