An invasive mosquito has been found in Moab. Learn more about the ways we can reduce the spread.
Adult mosquito ULV spraying notifications and other important announcements.
WEST NILE
VIRUS
The leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental U.S.
West Nile virus (WNV) is one of the most common arthropod borne viruses (arbovirus) in the world. It was first discovered in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937. In 1999 it made its first appearance in the United States, discovered in New York, then made its way across the U.S. Today, it’s nearly worldwide and is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental U.S.
Did you know?
WNV spreads by the bite of an infected mosquito, it cannot be spread through casual or intimate contact.
CULEX MOSQUITO IN UTAH
The Culex mosquito is a main vector of WNV; this mosquito is common in Utah. Birds, such as crows or jays, are the primary reservoir, or host, of WNV. There is no evidence that a person can get infected from handling live or dead infected birds, however you should avoid touching or handling a dead bird with your bare hands. If you need to pick up a dead bird, use gloves or an inverted plastic bag.
SYMPTOMS
About 80% of people who get infected with WNV will show no symptoms, however about 1 in 5 people who are infected develop West Nile fever.
Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, nausea, diarrhea, or rash. About 1 in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). This can occur in people of any age, however those 60 years of age and older are at a greater risk. There is no vaccine to prevent WNV and no specific medicine to treat its infection, therefore the best treatment available is prevention of mosquito bites.
FUN ACTIVITIES
FOR THE FAMILY
LIFE CYCLE
OF THE MOSQUITO
Like many other insects, mosquitos have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The first three stages are spent in the water.
Did you know?
Only female mosquitoes bite! The males feed on nectar and plant juices.
EGGS
Adult female mosquito lays about 100-300 eggs
Some mosquitoes lay eggs on the water surface in clusters called rafts; others lay them singly on the water's edge or on substrate that will be flooded with water. Also depending on the species, mosquito eggs can hatch into larvae within 2-3 days, or they can survive over the winter months. Some can withstand dry periods lasting several years, then hatch when conditions become favorable.
LARVAE
Larvae come to the surface of the water to breathe through a tube called a siphon.
They feed on small organic particles and microorganisms in the water. Over the course of several days to a few weeks, mosquito larvae progress through four molting stages (called instars), becoming larger in each successive stage before developing into pupae. In the Moab District, many millions of mosquito larvae are found in the wetlands along the Colorado River. Larvae are also found throughout the Moab Valley in irrigated fields and animal watering troughs.
Did you know?
Abandoned swimming pools, ponds, artificial containers, even abandoned tires can hold HUGE numbers of larvae.
PUPAE
Mosquito pupae breathe air at the water's surface using two tubes on its back.
Pupae do not eat but they are very active. Inside the pupa, the adult mosquito grows for several days until it is fully developed, then it splits the pupal skin and emerges to complete the life cycle.
ADULT
The wings must spread out and dry properly before it can fly.
The newly emerged adult mosquito rests on the surface of the water, allowing itself to dry and all its body parts to harden before flying away to feed. Depending on the species, they feed to get a sufficient blood meal to develop eggs. However, some species of mosquitoes have developed the means to lay viable eggs without getting a blood meal.
Did you know?
Some mosquitoes may prefer to feed on only one type of host.
Funded in part by the NIFA and Western IPM Center, the Moab Mosquito Project started in the summer of 2022 due to the presence of the highly invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito. The project uses simple egg collection cups called “ovitraps” to monitor the presence of this mosquito.
Aedes aegypti was first collected in Moab during the summer of 2019 and again in 2021 and 2022. This mosquito is very aggressive and has the potential to carry dangerous viruses such as chikungunya, dengue, Zika, and yellow fever. This is known as a container breeding mosquito, which means the female mosquitoes will lay their eggs on substrates within or on the sides of containers. They can breed in hard-to-reach places and the eggs can stick like glue making it difficult to eliminate them.
