Surveillance
During mosquito season, which runs from May through October, the Mosquito Abatement Team sets traps once per week in all areas of the precinct to track mosquito-borne disease activity and inform treatment decisions.
Disease Testing
We test Culex quinquefasciatus and other Culex species mosquitoes for mosquito-borne diseases, such as the West Nile Virus. A select number of samples are sent to the Texas Department of Health Services for PCR testing while the rest are tested in-house using the RAMP system.
Treatment
Areas where disease activity has been detected in the local mosquito population are treated using truck-based ultra-low volume (ULV) sprayers. These treatments take place when the species that carry disease are most active – between dusk and dawn.
Local mosquito species
To reduce the abundance of both disease-carrying and so-called “nuisance mosquitoes”, we target them in their larval stage. We identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites within the county right-of-way. If a breeding site cannot be eliminated we treat the area with larvicides, which are chemicals that are designed to kill mosquito larvae with minimal environmental impact.
![Precinct 3 - Southern House Mosquito](https://precinct3.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Precinct-3-Southern-House-Mosquito.jpg)
Southern House Mosquito
Culex quinqufasciatus
Habitat: Residential areas, breeds in brackish water with high organic content.
Disease: West Nile Virus
Active Time: Early evening through early morning.
![Precinct 3 - Asian Tiger Mosquito](https://precinct3.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Precinct-3-Asian-Tiger-Mosquito.jpg)
Asian Tiger
Aedes albopictus
Habitat: Residential areas, breeds in artificial containers with relatively clean water.
Disease: None, aggressive biter.
Active Time: Daytime.
![Precinct 3 - White Footed Mosquito](https://precinct3.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Precinct-3-White-Footed-Mosquito.jpg)
White-Footed Mosquito
Psorophora ferox
“Ferox wears white socks”
Habitat: Woodland areas, “floodplain mosquito” usually seen 1 – 2 weeks after heavy rainfall.
Disease: None, aggressive biter.
Active Time: All day.
![Precinct 3 - Elephant Mosquito](https://precinct3.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Precinct-3-Elephant-Mosquito.jpg)
Elephant Mosquito
Toxorhynchites
Habitat: Woodland and residential areas.
Disease: None, these mosquitoes do not take a blood meal, they drink nectar and their larvae eat other mosquito larvae.
Active Time: Daytime.