Mosquitoes - Public Safety - CSU Channel Islands

METHODS OF CONTROL AND HEALTH RISKS

CAMPUS UPDATE: Black light Mosquito zappers have been installed in the south quad and around the campus in 15 different locations to help mitigate the influx of mosquitoes we are expecting this summer, due to the unseasonal rains this year. Facilities Services also receives; as part of our pest control company services; a mosquito bating program.

*Additional Resources are listed below

The Environmental Health Division actively monitors and controls mosquitoes at approximately 1,800 mosquito breeding sources in Ventura County.

Mosquitoes are sometimes present in large numbers on campus, especially during summer and fall. The University is adjacent to many water bodies; there are over 1200 acres of wetlands at Mugu Lagoon alone, another 600 acres of intermittently wet game preserve ponds, Calleguas Creek, Revolon Slough, CI Regional Park, and irrigation ditches, ponds etc. All this water provides breeding habitat for mosquitoes. Virtually all mosquitoes present on campus arrive from these off-campus breeding sites. Adult mosquitoes that arrive on campus rest on vegetation, in alcoves and other protected areas.

Health Risks

Mosquitoes in this area can transmit encephalitis (Western Equine, Saint Louis) and West Nile Virus which can also cause encephalitis. Human cases of encephalitis range from mild to very severe illnesses that, in a few cases, can be fatal. Fortunately, these diseases are not common in Ventura County. Ventura County does surveillance for mosquito borne disease and in the event of a disease outbreak further actions will be taken to protect human health.

An Important Distinction

Salt Marsh Mosquitoes
In terms of health risk there is a distinction to be made between two types of mosquito present on campus. Salt marsh mosquitoes breed in salt water ponds left in coastal wetlands after the highest ocean tides recede. These mosquitoes can appear in very large numbers on campus several days after high tide events. They are very aggressive "day biters" and account for nearly all daytime mosquito bites here on campus. There is little evidence that this type of mosquito transmits disease.

Night Biting Mosquitoes (Culex, Aedes and others)
The principle health threat from local mosquitoes is carried by nighttime and twilight biting species. These mosquitoes breed in fresh water and are known disease vectors.

Control

Mosquito control is most effective when mosquitoes are concentrated, immobile and accessible, i.e. during immature stages in water before they emerge and disperse as adults. This type of control is exercised by the Naval Base at Point Mugu, and the County of Ventura who have jurisdiction over the water bodies surrounding the campus. Both the Navy and County utilize these larval stage controls as well as surveillance, source reduction and a variety of adult mosquito control strategies.

The Naval Base is the source of local salt marsh mosquitoes. The Navy performs surveillance, ground based larval control, ground based fogging to kill adults, and spraying of residual contact poisons on plants and structures. The most effective method of control is aerial spraying of larvicides, but this method has been restricted for the protection of other species in the wetlands.

The County uses a number of techniques (e.g. mosquito bacterial pathogens, slow release pesticide briquettes) to control mosquitoes during developmental stages in local fresh water bodies. Fresh water ponds, lakes and ditches are primarily under the jurisdiction of the Ventura County Vector Control Program. The county maps all significant standing water sources and treats them at least monthly. This mapping and treatment includes the University campus proper and University Glen. For more information about what Ventura County is doing visit their vector control program webpage.

Campus Control Status

The most effective method of control is at larval development sites; this option is of limited use to the University because larval development sites are primarily off campus. Thus the University been largely dependent on the mosquito control programs operated by the entities with jurisdiction over local water bodies. Even very successful control programs can not eliminate mosquitoes. These off-campus programs have had general success but salt marsh mosquitoes have been difficult to control.

Campus Control Options

The campus has a staff member who is licensed and certified for application of pesticides; this capability provides us a way to reduce the population of mosquitoes in landscaping and around building exteriors. In addition, the campus uses mosquito bate traps in areas that are known to have standing water. These types of control can be effective at temporarily reducing mosquito numbers over a limited area for a limited period of time. For example we would be able to focus effort on control when waves of salt marsh mosquitoes arrive on campus, or implement control for a particular area or prior to an important outdoor event.

Each of the above options must be used carefully and selectively. Traps can attract more mosquitoes, residual poisons can adversely effect both humans and wildlife, indoor use of pesticides or repellants can create poor indoor air quality. We continually evaluate them for effectiveness and potential negative effects and attempt to reach a balance that optimizes the health, safety and comfort of the University community.

What you can do

There are some actions that you can take to protect yourself from mosquito bites and minimize your chances of contracting mosquito borne disease. Please report any standing water you might observe to the safety office or Facilities Services so that we can prevent local mosquito reproduction.

To report dead birds for West Nile Virus testing, contact the California Department of Public Health at 877-968-2473 or visit https://westnile.ca.gov.

You can check out Center for Disease Control mosquito bite prevention suggestions here.

For Ventura County: Mosquito-eating fish are available for use in ornamental ponds and water features by calling 805-662-6582.

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