At least 61 different species of mosquitoes exist in South Carolina.

Mosquitoes are two-winged insects closely related to flies like gnats and no-see-ums. The name mosquito actually means “little fly.”

Only female mosquitoes bite. To get the nutrients they need to develop eggs, they feed on blood from humans and other animals. Mosquitoes find us through the carbon dioxide we breathe out, lactic acid and other components in our sweat, scents such as perfume, hair spray and deodorant, and dark-colored clothing. Some kinds of mosquitoes bite at any time of the day, especially in the shade, while others bite at dawn, dusk, twilight or night.

All mosquitoes hatch from eggs and the immature stages develop in water, but adult mosquitoes fly free on land.

Because mosquitoes in South Carolina may carry West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis, it’s important to control the mosquito population in our yards and communities, monitor for diseases carried by mosquitoes, and protect ourselves from mosquito bites

The City of Aiken has an active ongoing program to help control mosquito populations throughout the City. Throughout the year Public Services crew members provide ditch maintenance services which reduces the amount of standing water available to mosquitoes for egg laying and maturing. This involves no chemicals and is considered one of the more permanent forms of mosquito control.

During the times when mosquito activity is at it’s highest our crew will apply pesticides from machines mounted in pickup trucks in areas of the City where there are large populations of adult mosquitoes. This activity, known as adulticiding, is probably the most well-known activity by the public, and the one that receives the most notoriety and attention from the public. It is, however, a late-stage effort to control adult mosquitoes that somehow manage to escape the previous larviciding efforts.

Mosquito control must be a shared responsibility in order for abatement to be successful. There are some things you need to do around your own home or business to reduce the mosquito population and eliminate their breeding sites. Take a survey of your own property to identify and eliminate the source of the mosquitoes.

Here are several examples of things you can look for. Keep in mind that any source of standing or stagnant water can be a potential breeding location.

There are some things you and your family can do for your own personal protection. To reduce the risk of getting bitten by mosquitoes remember the Four D’s:

250 Dupont Dr. NW • Aiken, SC 29801 • 803-642-7613 Lex Kirkland - Director

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