Monsoon storms might cause this pest to breed in your yard. What to know

As monsoon season brings Arizonans heavy storms, it can also give homeowners a mosquito breeding ground in their backyard. With their potential to carry and transfer diseases, the pests may be more than a simple nuisance.

In Arizona, the primary disease carried by mosquitoes is the West Nile Virus, Maricopa County epizoologist Melissa Kretschmer said.

According to Kretschmer, eight out of 10 people who contract West Nile won’t experience any symptoms. For the two that do, a majority will only experience a few weeks of fever, body aches and fatigue.

However, the virus has the potential to cause a severe illness affecting the brain and spinal cord. This level of illness only affects one in every 150 people who contract West Nile, Kretschmer said.

In severe cases, symptoms include having an altered mental state and not knowing where or who you are, severe headaches, sensitivity to light and stiffness in the neck, possibly to the point of not being able to touch your chin to your chest, Kretschmer said.

Fortunately, Kretschmer noted, the disease is highly preventable. An important prevention measure is getting ahead of the potential breeding locations monsoons can create.

Where do mosquitoes breed, and how do I stop them?

Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water, and they only need enough water to fill a bottle cap, said Loretta Schraeder, the manager of pest control at Bill’s Pest and Termite Control.

Because monsoon season brings extra water to the Valley, there is more potential for standing water to collect. Regularly removing and drying any water in your yard is the best way to prevent mosquitoes from breeding there, Schraeder said.

Underneath river rocks, drips from air conditioning units, dog bowls, toys, flower pots and even car tires are all places where water can easily collect. Homeowners should regularly, but especially after storms, walk through their yards to ensure there is no puddling anywhere.

Kretschmer also recommended manually scrubbing items that are prone to catching water at least once a week to remove any eggs that may have been laid.

How can I prevent getting mosquito bites?

Beyond preventing mosquito breeding near your home, there are steps individuals can take to prevent getting bit by mosquitoes that do appear.

Wearing long sleeves and pants when possible, as well as using a mosquito repellant on exposed skin, can stop the bug from biting, Kretschmer said.

Homeowners should also ensure window and door screens are in good condition to keep mosquitoes from getting inside the house, she said.

What do I do if mosquitoes have bred in my backyard?

Homeowners who find that standing water in their area has led to a new population of mosquitoes can call pest control companies like Bill’s to treat the issue, Schraeder said.

There are also several products on the market that people can use to control the bugs themselves.

Citronella candles can be used outdoors to repel mosquitoes, Schrader noted, as well as indoor and outdoor sprays.

What do I do if I think I have the West Nile virus?

For a majority of symptomatic patients, the feverlike illness can be managed at home or with the help of your primary care provider, Kretschmer said.

In severe cases, patients may be hospitalized for more supportive care, she said.

If the virus affects the nervous system, it may have longer-term neurological effects, which would require further communication with a care provider, Kretschmer said.

Kretschmer noted humans who contract West Nile are considered “dead-end hosts,” meaning mosquitoes can’t pick the virus up from humans to spread it further. This means that if you do contract the virus, you are not at risk of transferring it to anyone else, except in the case of blood transfusions.

The virus is believed to give lifelong immunity, Kretschmer said, which means once it is contracted once, it won’t ever be contracted again. Even if you were bitten by an affected mosquito, an individual who has had the virus would not have symptoms again.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Monsoon storms might cause this pest to breed in your yard. What to know