Amador County – There is a buzz around Amador County around dusk this time of year, that is, a literal buzz from mosquitoes. And abating that problem might create the need for a trip to Calaveras County, as the Amador County Department of Agriculture is fresh out of mosquito fish. Patty Lesky, deputy agriculture commissioner for Amador County said Friday that the program has no funding this year, though last year many of the ponds around Amador were stocked with the fish. The program helps abate the mosquitoes because the fish eat mosquito larvae. The eggs are laid in stagnant water and also by tree mosquitoes in moisture deposits of all sorts. Lesky said anything that holds water or moisture, like a tree knot, a clogged gutter or a small flower pot, can be a deposit for millions of mosquito eggs. She said the Ag department has steered people to Copper Cray Fish in Copperopolis, a private residence and a fish farm. Lesky said the mosquito fish are for ponds and other large, nonmoving water deposits. She said they cannot be placed in a dog bowl. Instead, she said it is better to empty any stagnant standing water from yards. Dogs susceptible to mosquito bites can be given heartworm medication, for mosquito-bourn heartworms. The Amador Agriculture Department’s website notes the importance of eliminating mosquito breeding areas around the home, because “the species of mosquitoes most likely to carry West Nile virus can breed in your own backyard.” The site said “Ponds, reservoirs, or other large bodies of still water are potential breeding grounds,” and recommends stocking those with mosquito fish. The site gives notice that there are no mosquito fish available this season. It also tells about the fish, which can eat mosquito larvae as fast as they hatch. They also hatch live and require no special environment for reproducing. To contact Copper Cray Fish in Copperopolis to purchase mosquito fish, call 329-4311. For online information, see the Amador Ag Department link at www.co.amador.ca.us, or call the Ag office at 223-6487. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Monday, 18 May 2009 00:58
Mosquito Season
Amador County – There is a buzz around Amador County around dusk this time of year, that is, a literal buzz from mosquitoes. And abating that problem might create the need for a trip to Calaveras County, as the Amador County Department of Agriculture is fresh out of mosquito fish. Patty Lesky, deputy agriculture commissioner for Amador County said Friday that the program has no funding this year, though last year many of the ponds around Amador were stocked with the fish. The program helps abate the mosquitoes because the fish eat mosquito larvae. The eggs are laid in stagnant water and also by tree mosquitoes in moisture deposits of all sorts. Lesky said anything that holds water or moisture, like a tree knot, a clogged gutter or a small flower pot, can be a deposit for millions of mosquito eggs. She said the Ag department has steered people to Copper Cray Fish in Copperopolis, a private residence and a fish farm. Lesky said the mosquito fish are for ponds and other large, nonmoving water deposits. She said they cannot be placed in a dog bowl. Instead, she said it is better to empty any stagnant standing water from yards. Dogs susceptible to mosquito bites can be given heartworm medication, for mosquito-bourn heartworms. The Amador Agriculture Department’s website notes the importance of eliminating mosquito breeding areas around the home, because “the species of mosquitoes most likely to carry West Nile virus can breed in your own backyard.” The site said “Ponds, reservoirs, or other large bodies of still water are potential breeding grounds,” and recommends stocking those with mosquito fish. The site gives notice that there are no mosquito fish available this season. It also tells about the fish, which can eat mosquito larvae as fast as they hatch. They also hatch live and require no special environment for reproducing. To contact Copper Cray Fish in Copperopolis to purchase mosquito fish, call 329-4311. For online information, see the Amador Ag Department link at www.co.amador.ca.us, or call the Ag office at 223-6487. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
