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TRICK OR TREAT: OCTOBER IS TARANTULA SEASON
Probably as a result of too many bad horror films, the word 'tarantula' tends to conjure up images of gigantic hairy man-eating spiders the size of Greyhound buses. However, our local Bay Area species don't pose much of a threat to anyone; they are actually beneficial since they feed on insects that might otherwise become pests. Every year around Halloween (appropriately enough) we get multiple reports of large hairy spiders wandering through backyards or drowned in swimming pools, most often from communities adjacent to Mount Diablo. These are male California tarantulas, wandering about in search of mates (females are rarely seen since they are active only at night and tend to stick close to their burrows). Although they are capable of biting if handled or harassed, they are neither aggressive nor particularly dangerous. Their venom is adapted for paralyzing and digesting the small insects they feed on, and by all accounts has little or no effect on humans. Female tarantulas can live more than 20 years, but the males typically don't survive the winter once they start 'wandering'.
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Greetings!
Tarantulas, ticks and termites, oh my! Vectors, animals and insects that can cause discomfort and disease to people and animals, are abundant in Contra Costa County, but not all creatures are vectors. Read on to learn more about the animals and insects that are out and about this month. |
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Ticks are Bountiful in Fall & Winter Months
 Most people believe that it's during the summer months of the year when their risk of being bitten by a tick is the greatest, as warm temperatures draw many individuals to take part in outdoor activities. However, it's during late fall and winter that county residents are more likely to encounter adult ticks that potentially carry germs that cause illness, including Lyme disease. In Contra Costa County, there are three species of ticks that are commonly found to bite people. Of these, only one is considered to be the carrier and transmitter of the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, the Western black-legged tick. In California, the temperate climate allows the adults of these ticks to be active during the cooler months of the year, between October and March. click here to continue... |
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First Rains of the Season Prompt Emergence of Termites
 Like a scene from an old science fiction movie, large numbers of winged insects emerge from the ground and take flight, awkwardly swarming above the countless numbers of others small blackish-brown insects crawling around on the ground, some with wings and some without. This scene is played out every year in Contra Costa County following the first rains of the year in the county, as hundreds if not thousands of Western Subterranean Termites emerge from the ground and take flight in search of termites from different colonies, all with the hope of pairing up and starting a new colony. Subterranean Termites are beneficial insects in nature. They break down dead trees and other wood materials that would otherwise accumulate on the ground, returning the biomass back to the soil. Problems occur with these insects when they invade and destroy our homes and businesses, by eating their internal wooden timbers, thus compromising the structural integrity of these structures. click here to continue.... |
FREE services! Your tax dollars at work.
 The Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District has been protecting public health for more than 80 years, so it's no surprise that our residents know us for mosquito control. But did you know we have other equally important services available to Contra Costa County residents? We have programs and services for rats and mice, yellowjackets, skunks, ticks, and of course, mosquitoes. CCMVCD protects public health through the management of these vectors - animals or insects that are capable of causing harm or discomfort to people or animals. CCMVCD services are paid for through property tax dollars so there is no additional charge when residents request and receive service.
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We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Mosquito Bytes. Please send us your thoughts, questions, concerns, or ideas for future articles. We'd love to hear from you! Don't forget - our Web site is chock full of information that is available anytime, everyday.
Sincerely,
Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District
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