Mosquito surveillance is a critical element in the District's mosquito control program. District technicians use a variety of mosquito traps to collect samples for population monitoring and disease testing. Mosquito traps are collected on a weekly basis during the season (spring, summer, fall months). 

 

The District uses traps that collect both live and dead specimens, each with a specific purpose. Trap contents are emptied and the mosquitoes are identified, counted, and sorted according to sex and species. Dead specimens are used to monitor specific sites on a weekly basis to determine the effectiveness of control efforts. Live specimens are carefully processed and shipped to the California Department of Public Health in Richmond where they are tested for disease. 

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