Zebra Mosquitos!?
Sounds exotic!
But it's really not. These black mosquitos with white dots or stripes are also known as Asian Tiger Mosquitos which are fairly common in south Texas. Like all mosquitos, they can carry infectious diseases like West Nile, Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya viruses. Even non-infectious mosquitos are real pests to humans.
We've received word that the Zebra Mosquito has been spotted in our neighborhood! And given that we are still experiencing warm days, we wanted to take the opportunity to remind folks about the importance of protecting themselves and their neighbors from mosquitos.
Dump standing water in and around your home by emptying and scrubbing all outdoor containers such as pools, toys, planters, birdbaths and trash containers.
Tightly cover water storage containers such as buckets, cisterns and rain barrels so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs.
Clean out gutters to avoid standing water. Examine gutters for damage that would cause water to collect.
Inspect your yard after every rainfall and empty any containers or areas where water has collected. Also watch for puddles where condensation gathers from the AC unit.
Use screens on windows and doors and repair holes in the screens.
Apply insect repellent anytime you’re outside. an Use insect repellent with one of these active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon/eucalyptus or other EPA-approved repellent.
We love mosquito-dunks for our outdoor birdbaths, water fountains, and ponds. They won't hurt the fish, birds or aquatic plants, and effectively control mosquitos when used consistently.
If you are seeing a usually high number of mosquitos, you can notify the City Call Center at 817-392-1234 so they can include our neighborhood for targeted spraying. Or report mosquito infestation through the "MyFW app" available via Apple or Google Play. Or email the City Call Center at 1234@fortworthtexsa.gov.
Below are some more links you may find useful.
City of Fort Worth
Texas A&M Extension Service - Mosquito Control
Texas A&M Extension Service - Mosquito-Borne Diseases
