New Aussie Mosquito Spotted in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara County just spotted a new mosquito species — the Australian backyard mosquito — in the Mesa neighborhood, half a mile from where it was first found. Though it doesn’t spread disease here, it’s a known dog heartworm carrier in Australia. Officials are on high alert, deploying traps and door-to-door checks to stop it from spreading, especially since this area previously battled and eradicated the infamous “ankle biter.” Residents are urged to eliminate standing water, scrub pet bowls and bird baths weekly, and report daytime bites — because these mosquitoes are active during the day and could become a bigger problem if left unchecked. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b9915495c16eacbd