2023 CCVCD Wall Calendar

2023 C LACKAMAS COUNTY VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT

Vector Facts

What is Clackamas County Vector Control District (CCVCD)?

Our mission is to keep our community healthy and disease free by managing flies and mosquitoes in Clackamas County. While eradicating all flies and mosquitoes is environmentally unsound and impractical, we work to educate the public and reduce the number of flies/mosquitoes and vector-borne diseases in our community.

CCVCD offers a variety of free services to residents of Clackamas County that include: mosquito fish, yard and property inspections, environmentally friendly sprays and informational presentations. Please call us at 503-655-8394 or visit our website FightTheBites.com for more information.

Clackamas River

Photo by: Gina Lemon

Vector Facts

Can Mosquitoes Transmit COVID-19?

COVID-19 or the coronavirus, cannot be transmitted by mosquito bites. To date, there has been zero evidence to suggest that the virus can be transmitted by mosquitoes. The virus is a respiratory virus that is spread through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or releases droplets of saliva into the air.

Huckleberry Inn, Mt. Hood

Photo by: Cal Mukumoto

Vector Facts

The Life Cycle of Flies

Eggs – Female house flies can lay between 75 to 150 eggs per batch and will lay between five or six batches in her lifetime. Eggs take 8 to 20 hours to hatch and reach the larval stage.

Larvae – Once the flies hatch, they are called maggots. The larval stage takes between two weeks to a month or more in cooler conditions. During this time, maggots grow rapidly and shed a layer of skin before each of the three larval stages. At the end of the third stage, the maggots will transform into pupae.

Bob’s Red Mill

Photo by: Cal Mukumoto

Vector Facts

The Life Cycle of Flies

Pupae – The pupae is formed from the last layer of larval skin. At first it will be yellow and darken to red, brown and then black as the pupae develops. This stage takes between 2 to 20 or more days depending on the temperature.

Adult – Once flies become adults, they typically live between 15 to 25 days depending on the temperature. Adult flies spend the majority of their lives within a mile or two of their habitats.

Woodburn Tulip Festival

Photo by: Ivan Vejar

Fly Facts

Did you know that flies live off a liquid based diet? Flies use a proboscis, a long strawlike appendage to suck up their food after dissolving the food they land on. Flies, like butterflies, also use their feet to taste food. When they land, their taste receptors (chemonsensilla) on their lower legs and feet kick into action.

Vector Facts

Clackamas River

Photo by: Ivan Vejar

Vector Facts

What’s a Vector? What does Vector Control Do?

A vector is any mosquito or fly capable of transmitting a pathogen that causes disease in humans or animals.

Vector Control is the process of actively reducing the number of flies and mosquitoes in Clackamas County. Comprehensive vector control can use one or more approaches that target different environments and life stages of vectors.

Oregon Renaissance Faire

Photo by: Cal Mukumoto

Vector Facts

The Life Cycle of a Mosquito

Egg – Mosquitoes lay eggs one at a time on damp soil or attached together on water to form floating “rafts,” which contain between 100 to 400 eggs. These eggs typically hatch into larvae within 48 hours.

Larva – The larvae live in water, breathe through siphon tubes, and feed on microorganisms and organic matter in the water. Larvae molt (shed) their skin four times, growing bigger each time. During the fourth molt, the larva becomes a pupa.

Floating on the Clackamas River

Photo by: Cal Mukumoto

The Life Cycle of a Mosquito

Pupa – The pupa cannot eat, but can move and breathe through two tubes on its back. After two days, or when the mosquito is fully developed, the pupal skin is shed and an adult mosquito emerges.

Adult Mosquito – The adult must wait a short time to allow its wings to spread and dry out properly before it is able to fly. Blood feeding and mating do not occur until after a few days have passed. How long each stage lasts is dependent on temperature and species of mosquito.

Clackamas County Fair

Photo by: Cal Mukumoto

Vector Facts

Get Rid of Places Mosquitoes Live!

Mosquitoes need water to breed. If you have any pools or ponds in your yard, contact Clackamas County Vector Control District for free mosquito fish or a yard evaluation to help eliminate vectors and enjoy a BUZZ free summer!

Clackamas County Vector Control works with city, county, state and federal agencies yearround to control breeding sources to protect you.

Estacada City Hall

Photo by: Ivan Vejar

Vector Facts

Beat the Buzz!

You can beat the buzz by avoiding peak mosquito hours. Stay inside or in screened areas during sunrise, sunset and the early evening. Mosquitoes are also less attracted to dark colored clothes, and close-toed shoes.

Bashue Farms, Boring Or.

Photo by: Cal Mukumoto

Vector Facts

Vector Facts

Zika – Things You Need to Know

The Zika virus is spread by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Because of our cool climate, neither of these mosquito species lives in Oregon. Travel to other countries outside the United States can expose you to Zika infection. Remember to take precautions when traveling: wear insect repellent and avoid places where mosquitoes are active. Women who are already or expecting to become pregnant should be cautious about exposure to Zika. For more information on Zika and the risk of infection, visit FightTheBites.com!

Mt. Hood

Photo by: Marybeth Salyers

Vector Facts

Malaria

Malaria is rare in Oregon, due to the necessity for human reservoirs of the disease. Anopheles mosquitoes, the vectors of malaria, are found in some areas of Oregon. There have been isolated cases where human reservoirs that have visited other countries temporarily provided a source of malaria infection to local residents.

Bat Barn, McIver Park

Photo by: Vicki Shindler

CCVCD Programs & Speakers

During the winter, Clackamas County Vector Control District offers various educational programs to schools and service organizations in the county. Our free presentations include the biological aspects of vector control and the species here in Oregon.

To use our educational materials or arrange a speaker, call Clackamas County Vector Control District at 503-655-8394!

Ski Bowl

Photo by: Cal Mukumoto

Vector Facts

Your health and safety are always our number one concern.

If you are having problems with flies or mosquitoes, we offer free property inspections, environmentally friendly spraying, mosquito fish and more.

To request service, call our office between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm (Monday through Thursday) — our phone number is: 503-655-8394. Or fill out an online service request on our website: FightTheBites.com

Clackamas County Vector Control District

1102 Abernethy Rd Oregon City, OR 97045

Cover photo by: Loren Nibbe

Photos provided by: Cal Mukumoto, Ivan Vejar, Marybeth Salyers, Vicki Shindler and Gina Lemon