It hasn't been particularly warm, but mosquito and vector control districts in the Sacramento area have been getting dozens of complaints about mosquitoes.

 

It was just last month the Sacramento area had night after night of freezing temperatures. But, Michael Kimball with the Sutter Yuba Vector Control District says anopheles mosquitoes made it through the cold by hibernating and have now awakened for the equivalent of a midnight snack, "This mosquito can hunker down in areas.  For instance: wood piles, inside buildings, up in any secluded area and they'll make it through some pretty cold temperature. And then, when we get a break in that they're hungry and they come out looking for a blood meal."

 

Kimball says the the numbers of calls have increased in recent weeks.

 "I've seen that same phenomena at home.  I left the door open last Saturday and watching the Super Bowl Sunday, all my guests were swatting." 

 

Kimball says the mosquitoes return to hibernation once they find something to eat.  He expects the hibernation break to continue for a few more weeks.  The second half of their winter nap should last until May.

 

The district has been spraying with handheld foggers. Kimball says using trucks is inefficient. 

 

The Placer County Mosquito and Vector Control district says it has also received several complaints.  But the number has not reached the level required to begin spraying.  

 

It also likely will not spray because the only disease this particular type of mosquito transmits is malaria.  The Centers for Disease Control says Malaria cannot be transmitted by mosquitoes when the temperature is below 68 degrees.