If you live in Orange County, you have a new neighbor flying around.
Aedes (pronounced A-dees) mosquitoes have been flying around Orange County and biting the ankles of its residents. Officials in the county say they're dealing with an increase of these little biters this summer.
According to Heather Hyland, public information officer with the Orange County Mosquito Vector Control, the new invasive species are small and black with white stripes and are low flying.
"They’re very hard to control," Hyland told KNX In Depth. "They’re aggressive biters, they bite during the day, and they lay eggs that can stay viable for years.”
Hyland noted Aedes are more aggressive than the native mosquitoes and can sometimes be found inside homes. She added the warmer weather is most likely leading to the increase of these mosquitoes.
But do these new species carry this West Nile virus? Hyland said this particular species hasn't been known to carry the virus and that the virus usually spread through the native mosquitoes.
Earlier this week, L.A. health officials announced a South Bay resident was hospitalized with a fever related to the virus last month but is recovering.
Hyland said positive samples of the West Nile virus are lower than last year.
"We’ve only had two positive West Nile virus samples coming out of Fullerton, but in 2020 we had 329 samples so it was a lot higher last year," she said.
Her advice for residents looking to avoid contact with these mosquitoes - be alert.
"We’re really asking people to do their due diligence," she said.
"Look around their yard, eliminate any standing water from their property and also now that we have this new invasive species, standing water indoors because this invasive species actually tends to lay eggs in small containers and we’re seeing them living fine indoors and outdoors.”