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.”

There are probably plenty of vector species in your garden already. Luckily, most can’t hurt you. But thanks to Chinese shipments of Lucky Bamboo, we now face a potentially dangerous vector species as we work in our gardens: Asian tiger mosquitos and yellow fever mosquitos,

Asian tiger mosquito (CDC) Public Domain

Asian tiger mosquitos are aggressive day feeders that can transmit encephalitis, dengue fever, yellow fever, and West Nile virus. Yellow fever mosquitos can infect you with, you guessed it, yellow fever. They can also carry the Zika virus. These diseases can be fatal, so keeping mosquitos at bay is a good idea.

Any standing water on your property puts out the welcome mat for mosquitos. All these critters need is a tablespoon of water to create a breeding ground. There are several steps you take to reduce the chance of mosquitos taking up residence in your yard:

• Use outdoor pet watering bowls to water your plants or yard daily and provide your pets with fresh water sans mosquito eggs. 
• Ensure lawn decorations, planter saucers, and outdoor furniture don’t create mosquito habitats.
• Add mosquito dunks and mosquitofish to ponds, fountains, rain barrels, and bird baths to prevent the spread of these invasive insects.

Many sap-sucking insects can carry diseases to your plants. Aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, and whiteflies are all disease vectors.