Invasive Aedes mosquitoes

A yellow fever mosquito feeding and filling up with blood.
Close-up photo of a female Aedes aegypti mosquito in the process of feeding on human blood.

Non-native mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti  were found  locally here in Santa Barbara County in 2020 but have not been seen since May 2021. 

Non-native Australian backyard mosquitoes, Aedes notoscriptus, were found in Santa Barbara's West Side ad Mesa neighborhoods in March and June 2026, respectively.

A close-up image of Aedes notoscriptus on human skin, showcasing its distinct black and white striped body and long legs.
Australian backyard mosquito. Photo credit: Lek Khauv - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1682027, CC BY 4.0, 

Please contact the District if you find yourself being bitten by aggressive mosquitoes during daytime hours. Both of these mosquitoes like to bite around the feet and ankles which is why residents being tormented by these pests call them "ankle biters". To learn more about the threats this Aedes aegypti could bring and what you can do to prevent them from breeding around your house, please visit the links below. 

Aedes aegypti brochureInvasive Aedes press release

California Department of Public Health Invasive Aedes

 Center for Disease Control website

Visit the Mosquito & Vector Control Association of California for information, including short videos, that explain some of the innovative technologies that can be used for controlling non-native Aedes mosquitoes:

Innovative Technologies

Frequently Asked Questions about Innovative Technologies:

MVCAC-FAQ-Innovative-Technologies.pdf

Los Angeles Times article from March 22, 2026 on the challenges mosquito districts are facing in trying to control invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes: Promising mosquito control option hits a snag