Even though Arizona temperatures are cooling down, it’s still important to protect yourself against mosquitoes. Arizona is home to about 50 mosquito species including Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that can carry and spread diseases like the Zika virus. This mosquito is well-adapted to the Arizona climate. Their eggs can survive outdoors in the cold, dry conditions of winter, and adult mosquitoes can survive and thrive in the cozy temperatures of your home.
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes like to lay their eggs on the inside of small containers of water, usually human-made objects like buckets, flower vases, or old tires. Even in the winter, when the water has evaporated, the eggs can survive drying out for up to a year. Once spring and the rain comes, the mosquito eggs hatch and complete their life cycle.
Arizona encourages continued mosquito prevention year-round. The best way to protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes year-round is to wear insect repellent when outdoors and at all times of day, be sure screens are intact on windows and doors, and wear long clothing. Keep your yard clean and clear from debris to reduce the places mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Dump and cover all water-holding containers regularly, or treat water sources, such as pools and ponds with the appropriate chemicals to stop mosquitoes from laying eggs on your property. While our weather has cooled down, it is important to continue to “Fight the Bite” to stop the spread of diseases such as Zika virus.
