'Ankle Biter' Invasion Complicates LA's Mosquito Season

LOS ANGELES, CA — Got itchy ankles? Blame Aedes aegypti, also known as the yellow fever mosquito or more aptly dubbed the 'ankle biter.' The invasive little parasite is making its pesky presence felt in Southern California, bringing with it the risk of diseases such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya. The ankle-biting bug can also pass dog heartworm to pets.

And to make matters worse, the mosquito season is growing longer with warmer temperatures lasting into November. On Thursday morning, Los Angeles County vector-control officials sprayed pesticides in the Watts area, where high concentrations of mosquitoes increase the risk of disease transmission, said Anais Medina Diaz, Public Information Officer for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.

“We don’t have any local cases of transmission, but, because we have a high abundance of mosquitoes, it really does increase the risk," Diaz said.

Related: Map Shows West Nile Virus Carrying Mosquitoes In LA County

Vector control officials discovered a high concentration of the ankle-biters in the Watts area and opted to spray after working with residents to remove standing water in tires, flower pots and containers. The little parasite only needs a spoonful of water to breed, and what most people don’t realize is that they like to go indoors as well and will breed in flower vases, too, added Diaz.

The breed was first discovered in the Southern California region four years ago in Orange County, and it’s quickly spread throughout Northern Orange County and into the Los Angeles region. For years, the West Nile Virus has been endemic across the region, but now health officials are bracing themselves for the possibility of new outbreaks thanks to the Aedes aegypti.

Authorities warn that the mosquito season will last into November this year, and West Nile has already been found in cities across Los Angeles and Orange counties. In LA, mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile Virus in large swaths of the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Cerritos, Baldwin Park and La Verne.

Earlier this month, a San Fernando Valley resident contracted West Nile Virus, Los Angeles County health department officials confirmed Monday. The patient was one of two confirmed human cases countywide as the region grapples with a particularly bad mosquito season.

"Every year in Los Angeles County, we see cases of West Nile virus infection, which can be serious, even deadly, especially for people over 50 and those who have existing health problems," Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County's health officer, said in a statement. "Mosquito bites aren't just annoying, they may make you sick. So everyone should take protective action by using mosquito repellent when outdoors and getting rid of items in their homes or yards that collect standing water where mosquitoes can breed."

Health and vector-control officials offered tips for mitigating mosquito habitats, including:

• Eliminating standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or anything that holds water for more than a week;
• ensuring that swimming pools, spas and ponds are properly maintained;
• changing the water in pet dishes, birdbaths and other small containers weekly;
• requesting "mosquitofish" from the local vector control district for placement in ornamental ponds;
• wearing insect repellent when outdoors where mosquitoes may be present; and
• reporting neglected (green) swimming pools to the vector control district.

City News Service contributed to this report.