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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Have you noticed more mosquitoes than usual this spring?
The heavy rainfall this year has left water standing throughout our county, creating the perfect habitat for a record number of mosquitoes.
“We’re receiving a lot of requests for mosquito control,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., the district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District explained. “The abundant rains provided a lot of mosquito sources, and we’re getting out as fast as we can, but many of our treatments depend on the right weather conditions, and the weather this spring has limited the nights we’ve been able to treat for the adult mosquitoes – mainly the treehole mosquitoes and the snowmelt mosquitoes.”
She described the district’s program for addressing mosquitoes. “When you call for service, we will take your information and the district’s trained, certified technicians and scientists will evaluate the problem and determine the best response.”
Two mosquito species are causing most of the problem right now: the western treehole mosquito and the snowpool mosquito. Both species are unusually abundant this year.
The western treehole mosquito, also known by its scientific name Aedes sierrensis, is a small, black and white mosquito that comes out near sunset, but will also bite if you venture into shaded areas. The mosquito larvae grow in the water that collects in cavities within the oaks, but will also inhabit water trapped in other trees like walnuts and madrones.
The treehole mosquito is an aggressive human biter, but a poor flier so setting an oscillating fan out on your patio when it starts to bite may offer some relief. These mosquitoes are found throughout Lake County.
The snowpool mosquito, Aedes increpitus, is poorly named for our area; at higher elevations it develops in the pools of water left by melting snow, but locally, this species comes from puddles filled by rainwater or high lake levels. The adult mosquitoes are large, and usually emerge in March and April.
Snowpool mosquitoes are aggressive human-biting mosquitoes, and strong fliers that may travel a few miles from where they hatched. They are found in many areas of Lake County.
Another recent common question is about treating the rice flies, a non-biting midge that looks like a mosquito but cannot bite.
In recent weeks, there has been a large emergence of rice flies from Clear Lake, and these insects are seen forming large humming swarms near sunset or resting on walls by the thousands. Treating for mosquitoes doesn’t affect the rice flies, Scott said.
“We have people who want us to spray for the rice flies, and we have to explain that those insects will die within a day, so it makes no sense to spend your taxpayer money to spray an insect with such a short lifespan, in contrast with mosquitoes, which can live for several weeks” explained Dr. Scott.
Dr. Scott shared that many residents are asking what they can do to help with the mosquito problem this year. She recommends that you prevent mosquitoes from growing on your property by:
· Dumping out containers of water. Buckets, wheelbarrows, and children’s toys are obvious sources, but other mosquito sources are easily overlooked, like the water that collects in tarps covering woodpiles or vehicles, or the water trapped in clogged rain gutters on your roof.
· Maintain your swimming pool and spa in good working order.
· Pick up mosquitofish from our office if you have a pool or spa that is out of service or for your water garden, livestock watering troughs, a pond (natural or ornamental), large fountain or other water feature.
And if mosquitoes are biting and you can’t go inside:
· Wear long sleeves and pants.
· Use a mosquito repellent that contains picaridin, IR 3535, DEET, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention answers many FAQs about mosquito repellents at https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/faq/repellent.html . The US Environmental Protection Agency has an online tool to help you find the right repellent for you and your family at https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents .
· Check window and door screens and repair any holes to keep mosquitoes outside.
· Cut down weeds to eliminate a place for adult mosquitoes to rest.
· Contact the Lake County Vector Control District to request mosquito control services. If you are a certified organic farmer registered with the Lake County Department of Agriculture, we have mosquito control products that comply with your certification requirements.
The district is fixing technical difficulties with its online service request. If you have a mosquito problem, please contact the Lake County Vector Control District by phone at 707-263-4770. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
You also can email your name, daytime phone number and physical address to
Service may be delayed if the district is unable to contact you.
The Lake County Vector Control District is a public health agency that protects Lake County residents and visitors from mosquitoes and other vectors of disease. More information about the district and its program is available at www.LCVCD.org .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Rain is back in the forecast for early next week, but sunnier conditions are expected to follow, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters said a cold, wet low pressure system is set to move into the Pacific Northwest on Monday, moving southward into Northern California Monday evening through Tuesday and bringing with it widespread rain and even snow elevations above 5,000 feet.
Another low pressure system is forecast to move through interior Northern California on Tuesday, with the possibility of wetter weather and lower snow levels.
The National Weather Service’s in-depth forecast said that, after that system, breezy north winds are likely to develop mid to late next week, with much warmer weather to develop by late in the week as high pressure builds over the state.
The specific Lake County forecast calls for sunny conditions this weekend and on Monday, with daytime highs in the low 60s and nighttime temperatures into the high 30s.
From Monday night through Tuesday night there are chances of showers, with daytime temperatures in the high 50s, dropping into the 30s at night, the forecast said.
Forecasters predict sunny conditions will return from Wednesday through Friday, with temperatures back into the high 70s in the day and at night dipping into the high 50s.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Expedition 51 Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Jack Fischer of NASA concluded the 200th spacewalk outside the International Space Station at 1:21 p.m. EDT on Friday.
During the spacewalk, which lasted just over four hours, the two astronauts successfully replaced a large avionics box that supplies electricity and data connections to the science experiments.
The astronauts also completed additional tasks to install a connector that will route data to the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, repair insulation at the connecting point of the Japanese robotic arm, and install a protective shield on the Pressurized Mating Adapter-3.
This adapter will host a new international docking port for the arrival of commercial crew spacecraft.
Spacewalkers have now spent a total of 1,247 hours and 55 minutes working outside the station during 200 spacewalks in support of assembly and maintenance of the orbiting laboratory.
The first spacewalk in support of International Space Station assembly and maintenance was conducted on Dec. 7, 1998, by NASA astronauts Jerry Ross and Jim Newman during space shuttle Endeavour’s STS-88 mission.
Astronauts completed attaching and outfitting of the first two components of the station, the Russian Zarya module and the U.S. Unity module.
For more information about the International Space Station, visit www.nasa.gov/station .
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) has announced the start of the Summer Reading Challenge.
Open to students from pre-K through the eighth grade, the challenge encourages kids in our district to read as many – or all – of the books on the Library of Congress and American Library Association’s Summer Reading List.
The list is divided into four age groups, with 25 books in each category. Students who participate in the challenge are eligible for special recognition from Thompson’s office.
“A good book opens countless doorways – both to new worlds within its pages and bright futures right here,” said Thompson. “The Summer Reading Challenges encourages our kids to keep reading, experience new perspectives, and enjoy wonderful stories.”
Students interested in participating can sign up with Thompson’s office at https://go.usa.gov/x5MVg .
A flier with more information can be found at https://mikethompson.house.gov/sites/mikethompson.house.gov/files/2017_summer_reading_challenge.pdf .
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Luncheon Club will host a talk by Tom Nixon, a retired State Park ranger, on Lake County’s outdoor recreational opportunities when it meets on Wednesday, May 17.
Lunch will be served by the senior center at noon at the Middletown Senior Center, 21256 Washington St. The program will end promptly at 1 p.m.
For only $5 per person, enjoy a meal of cabbage rolls accompanied by a whole wheat roll and watermelon.
It's a great time to get outdoors in Lake County. Nixon, an advocate for “all things nature,” will share the opportunities that exist for us to explore our beautiful county via foot, hoof, water or pedal power.
Nixon was most recently a ranger at Anderson Marsh and he currently volunteers to develop and promote the Konocti Regional Trails program for the Lake County Department of Public Services.
Reservations are required. Please call the senior center directly at 707-987-3113 to reserve your spot.
UKIAH, Calif. – The Mendocino College Board of Trustees approved the naming of “Pomo Plaza” at their monthly meeting held May 10.
Mendocino College established a monument to recognize the Pomo communities and help create a more culturally respectful and inclusive campus climate as part of their continued equity work.
This initiative aligns with the Board of Trustees’ goal of strengthening the college’s inclusive, equitable and ethnically diverse culture to be more welcoming to all students and increase access and support for underrepresented groups including American Indian students.
Pomo Plaza will be located on the Mendocino College, Ukiah Campus in the area between the Library Learning Center and the Lowery Student Center.
The location will be prominently marked with a stone monument that acknowledges and highlights the experiences and numerable positive contributions of American Indian people as well as the importance of the Pomo cultures in our communities.
Mendocino College plans to hold an unveiling and naming ceremony upon completion of the project.
Jessica Silva is director of community relations and communication at Mendocino College.