Vector

According to Webster, a vector is “an organism, typically a biting insect or tick, that transmits a disease or parasite from one animal or plant to another.”

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There are plenty of vector species in your garden already, but most of them can’t hurt you. Thanks to Chinese shipments of “Lucky Bamboo”, however, we are now facing a potentially dangerous vector species as we work in our gardens: Asian tiger mosquitos and yellow fever mosquitos.

Photo of Asian tiger mosquito (Wikipedia)

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According to Santa Clara County Vector Control, Asian tiger mosquitos are aggressive day feeders that can transmit encephalitis, dengue fever, yellow fever, and West Nile virus, while yellow fever mosquitos can infect you with, you guessed it, yellow fever. These diseases can be fatal, so please take a few minutes each day to look for ANY amount of standing water on your property. All these critters need is a tablespoon of water to create a breeding ground. It is a good idea to use outdoor pet watering bowls to water your plants or yard each day, and provide your pets with fresh water sans mosquito eggs. Also, make sure that lawn decorations, planter saucers, and even lawn furniture doesn’t provide these potentially deadly insects with a useful habitat.

Mosquito dunks and mosquitofish can be used in ponds, fountains, rain barrels, and bird baths to prevent the spread of these invasive insects.