Santa Clara County Vector Control District worker sampling for mosquito’s larvae

Searching for mosquito larvae

Mosquito larvae sample to be tested

There are about 20 species of mosquitoes in Santa Clara County, including the common house mosquito (Culex pipiens), Western encephalitis mosquito (Culex tarsalis), and the summer salt marsh mosquito (Aedes dorsalis). Mosquito bites can cause symptoms such as headaches, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash and elderly individuals and people with weak immune systems are more vulnerable and can cause serious illness or disease. Mosquitoes need water to lay eggs and often use standing water to reproduce. The best way to prevent mosquitoes is to drain, remove, or turn over anything that can hold water.