August 31, 2026

Short Bites Monthly

Public Health Mosquito Control for August 2026.

Image features a hand holding a phone displaying an update from the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District, titled "August Update".

Short Bites Monthly newsletter shares insight into mosquito control efforts at SGV Mosquito. This ensures that our data as a public health agency remains transparent to the public and to people who are interested in our mission of protecting public health from mosquito-borne diseases.

The image features two professionals, a diverse team, alongside a service truck, promoting community engagement.

Mosquito Control in August

This month, Southern California and SGV Mosquito saw an increase in West Nile virus-positive traps. As part of our agency’s response, we enhanced surveillance trapping, awareness outreach, and property (business and residential) consultations to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease.

A person in a mosquito control vest is putting up a public health notice near a stop sign on a street.
Image of an outreach team member putting up a public health mosquito control informational poster in the city of Glendora.

The Communications Team attended 19 outreach opportunities that included presentations, education programs, poster notifications, and community events. Additionally, we have been expanding our mosquito 101 presentations to city and lifestyle clubs and conducting poster notification outreach to public spaces. The goal is  to share mosquito bite prevention tips with residents where they typically congregate.

In this newsletter, we’re highlighting which mosquito repellents actually work, how to protect your pets from heartworm (a disease transmitted by mosquitoes), and how we respond to West Nile virus.  

Let’s get the buzz on August.

 Public Health Education in Action

The image shows outreach data for August: 1,059,738 social media engagements, 2,376 in-person engagements, 321 newsletter readers, and 225 students.
Image of outreach stats for the past month.

This month, our messaging to residents was about mosquito bite prevention tips, solutions for reducing stagnant water sources at home, and who we are as a public health agency.

The image shows a community event focusing on mosquito prevention, with people engaging at an informative booth.
Images of a vector control specialist in Altadena educating people about places where mosquitoes like to breed and how to eliminate them on their property.

Current Outreach Services

Mosquito 101 Presentations 

If you’re interested in learning more about general mosquito health and safety tips, book a Mosquito 101 presentation with us.

Perfect for senior centers, city clubs, libraries, and organizations with outdoor workers.

Book now

A presentation on Aedes mosquitoes, discussing their impact, biting behavior, and disease transmission in the community.
SGV Mosquito Booth for Events 

If you’re interested in having an educational and interactive booth at your next city or community event, book a SGV Mosquito booth.

Perfect for large city or community events.

Book Now

People are gathered at a tent promoting mosquito control services, featuring the "Tip 'N Toss" campaign to eliminate standing water.
The image features a stylized mosquito and text emphasizing "IN DISEASE CONTROL," highlighting the role of mosquitoes in disease transmission.

Mosquito Abundance Report

The image shows a line graph depicting the average number of mosquitoes caught per trap across different years from 2021 to 2026.
Image of weekly mosquito abundance throughout the San Gabriel Valley. This line graph also shows a yearly comparison from the past 5 years.

Mosquito Activity Report

The image shows a map with blue circles indicating various locations in the West Covina and El Monte area, likely data points.
Image of this month's mosquito activity by latitude and longitude. Bubble size indicates mosquito abundance per trap. Bigger bubbles indicate that more mosquitoes are present compared to the smaller bubbles.

Mosquitoes Species Report

The image is a pie chart showing mosquito species distribution, with Cx quinquefasciatus at 80.18%, followed by Ae aegypti at 14.51%.
Image of this month’s mosquito trap collection by species throughout San Gabriel Valley. "Cx" indicates Culex mosquitoes and "Ae" indicates Aedes mosquitoes.

West Nile Virus (WNV) Activity

This month, we’ve seen an influx in mosquito presence compared to the past 5 years in the SGV. Year-to-date, we have detected 105 West Nile virus-positive mosquito samples in the SGV. In response, we have conducted treatments in neighborhoods that showed an elevated presence to reduce the risk of WNV transmission.

WNV activity naturally fluctuates; some years are lower, others are higher, and right now we’re seeing that wave move upward.

Learn more about the WNV-positive surge in the SGV

A person examines water in a drainage area using a handheld flashlight and a small cup. They appear to be conducting an inspection.
Image of a Vector Control Specialist inspecting a stagnant water source in a public space.

Learn more about West Nile virus

Eaton Area Mosquito Control Response

SGV Mosquito identified 1,475 non-functioning swimming pools damaged by the Eaton Fire. These pools became high-risk breeding grounds; a single pool can produce up to 3 million adult mosquitoes in just one month, posing a significant public health threat through the potential spread of diseases like West Nile virus and Dengue.

Through monitoring, treatment, and aid from its partners, SGV Mosquito has significantly reduced mosquito-borne disease risk.

A person in gloves inspects a fenced, empty, and unkempt swimming pool, surrounded by overgrown plants and construction barriers.
Image of a Vector Control Specialist applying larval control in an Eaton area pool with a small amount of stagnant water. 

Learn more on how we support the Eaton Area

The number of high-risk sites has been reduced to 895 active pools currently under supervision. Pools from the list have either been permanently removed or deemed safe, meeting the criteria for being clean, functional, or no longer a threat to the community.

Status of Eaton Area Pools 

 Currently there are 895 pools being managed.

  • 237 pools are empty and dry.
  • 50 pools are maintained with larvicide treatment.
The image shows a ruined structure with a chimney, debris, a green pool, and charred trees under a clear blue sky.
Status of Biological Control 
  • In 605 of the Eaton Fire-affected pools, we have introduced 18,000 mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis).
  • These fish provide a natural, long-term solution by eating mosquito larvae before they can reach adulthood.
The image shows a close-up of a mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) fish head and a mosquito larvae.
The image features the phrase "IN EDUCATION," an illustration of a magnifying glass, and cartoon mosquitoes, suggesting a focus on mosquito-related topics in education.

Public Health Presentations for Parents

This month, we participated in numerous back-to-school night events and presentations. These outreach engagements are a great way to connect with parents and school staff to educate them on the public health threats of mosquitoes.

Check out this presentation to the West Covina Unified School District and book us for your next school event:

Current EcoHealth Programs

Vector Inspector Program 

For Elementary School Grades

Vector Inspector Program (V.I.P.) is an interactive community science program that enables students to decrease mosquitoes in the community and protect people from mosquito-borne diseases.

Learn More

A woman and several children are engaged in a hands-on gardening or science activity outdoors, exploring nature together.
Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D. 

For Middle School Grades

Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D. is an interactive community science program that gets mosquitoes off the grid using scientific tools to trap adult Aedes mosquitoes and analyze their eggs to detect mosquito abundance in their neighborhoods.

Learn More

A girl in a blue sweater peers into a microscope while others observe, engaging in a scientific activity.

Resources to Share

How to choose mosquito repellent that works 

It’s not the brand, but the ingredient inside mosquito repellent that actually works.

Hint: there are only 4 ingredients that repel mosquitoes.

Learn More

A woman helps a young boy with something, possibly applying lotion or insect repellent, against a backdrop of greenery and a brick wall.
Protect your pets from Heartworm 

Learn how to protect your fur babies from serious diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, like Heartworm and Typhus.

Learn More

A woman walks her dog along a curved sidewalk near houses with lush landscaping in a suburban area.
Take Action: Tip, Toss, Protect 

Are you wondering how you can take back your yard from mosquitoes? We have a guide to help you reduce mosquitoes on your property.

Learn More

The image provides three tips: Tip out stagnant water, toss unused containers, and protect yourself with mosquito repellent.

For more information, please visit our website.

District Mission: Providing the highest level of protection from vectors & vector-borne diseases in San Gabriel Valley.

An illustration encouraging people to share their experiences, featuring a person handing out materials.

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🖋 Written & Edited by Ally Gaspar
🖋 Eaton Area Reporting by Derek Garcia.