San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District has year-round task

However, as of early October, no positive cases were found in dead birds and the increased risk of West Nile virus is on a decline. This spike in cases was caused by the lingering effects of mosquito breeding from the hot summer months, the season when mosquitoes thrive.

Although mosquitoes are more prominent in the warmer months, “every season is mosquito season,” Rachel Curtis-Robles, Public Health Education and Outreach officer for the district, said.

The district works year-round to make sure residents are safe from mosquito bites and vector-borne diseases and has been serving the county with mosquito and yellow jacket control, tick surveillance and rodent inspections since 1916.

With a primary focus in mosquitoes, the district is focusing on preventing the increase of breeding and monitoring the spread of viruses such as West Nile virus and Zika.

By using traps filled with dry ice, mosquitoes are attracted by the emission of carbon dioxide and are collected into a net. Traps are set up daily to monitor the mosquito population throughout the county. Residents may spot one at a park, trailhead or even in their neighborhood.

When the warm summer months arrive, seasonal vector control aides can be seen spraying more than 34,000 street drains with an oil solution to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in small puddles of water. 

In addition to eradicating mosquitoes, the district also grows them. To research, create more awareness and educate the public about mosquitoes, the district’s laboratory team has a secure room to breed and study them.

By growing them, the lab can test the effectiveness of current pesticides and make sure that what they are doing actually works, Curtis-Robles said.

The mosquito population may not seem like a drastic issue in the county but the community would surely notice without the work of the district.

“If we didn’t do what we do, people would notice within two weeks,” Curtis-Robles said. “Life would be unpleasant.”

The district’s team of 10 vector control technicians start at 8 a.m. every day to go out to their designated areas of the county to respond to service calls and monitor mosquito populations in pools of water and marshes known to be breeding grounds.

All vector control technicians are well-educated experts on subjects beyond the work they do. They regularly attend trainings and educational classes to maintain their knowledge of the biology and environment of the organisms with which they work.

Ryan Thordike, the district’s Field Operations supervisor, started as a seasonal worker with no prior experience in mosquito and vector control. After 10 years with the district, he now carries the niche knowledge of more than 20 species of multiple insects and sensitive species. He also carries an airboat license he uses to collect samples and monitor mosquitoes in the salt marsh.

“The most important thing I want the public to know is how diverse our services are,” Thorndike said.

From yellow jacket nest treatments, rodent inspections, mosquito breeding prevention and insect identification, the district will serve all residents of the county at no cost as it is funded through the county’s cities and county. With a team of highly skilled operations and laboratory staff, the district’s services offer a wide range of assistance to other insects and pests that may not be on their primary list.

“The best part about this job is helping people,” Thorndike said. “Saying ‘I found the problem’ is the best feeling and letting the person know that their issue is solved.”

When residents seek help from the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District, they can expect to have a quick response and a service scheduled as early as the next day.

As the Public Health Education and Outreach officer, Curtis-Robles frequently spreads the word about the district’s work through school visits, presentations and tabling at public events like farmers’ markets.

For more information about the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District services as well as more on mosquitoes, ticks, yellow jackets and rodents visit smcmvcd.org.