Ankle-biting mosquitoes on the rise in San Diego

When Tropical Storm Hillary moved out of town and left all that standing water in San Diego, the “ankle biting” mosquitoes moved in.

Clint Lawter got most of his bites at Old Poway Park.

“They bit me on my arms, my legs, my stomach, everywhere,” Lawter said.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were first detected in San Diego County in 2014. While Aedes originally called Africa its home, it has now spread around the world due to its love for both people and temperate zones. . Also known as “yellow fever” mosquitoes and “ankle biters,” they are popping up all over the county.

They will bite you anywhere, but environmentalists say they are called “ankle biters” because they like to fly low.

“Because of that, you don’t really hear them coming,” said vector ecologist Chris Conlan. “And most people don’t realize until they see them down there hugging their feet or notice a bunch of bites.”

That’s something unique about this guy. A mosquito may bite you several times at once. They can also thrive in your home.

“It’s not uncommon to see them lurking under chairs or kitchen tables,” Conlan said. “And then you sit down, they come out and try to bite.”

What worries environmentalists like Conlan is the mosquito’s ability to transmit diseases such as yellow fever, Zika or West Nile virus.

There have been no reports of disease transmission in San Diego, yet.

“So far, so good,” Conlan said. “Knock on wood. I hope I didn’t curse him.”

The best way to keep ankle biters away is to remove even the smallest amount of standing water. Even a bottle cap full of water sitting there for a week is an ideal breeding ground for pests. If you need to be near standing water, use mosquito repellent or cover up.

“If you don’t put protection in one way or another, they will bite you whether you like it or not. Lawter said. “She’s coming.”

Conlan said the pests will become established throughout the county for a few months until colder weather slows them down.