Tick Surveillance in San Mateo County, December 2006

Entomology Report November/December 2006, San Mateo County Mosquito Abatement District

The Western black-legged tick, the vector of Lyme disease, becomes active with the commencement of winter rains. These ticks require cool, moist conditions to survive and are commonly encountered along recreational trails during winter. Last year, 22 trails in 8 parks were surveyed by District staff and other agencies. This year, the District will again coordinate with the San Mateo County Department of Public Health and the Land and Resources Division of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission in surveying additional parks within the county. So far this season, 669 ticks have been collected and are in the process of being tested for Lyme disease.

Park             Total # Females  Total # Males  Adult Density
                 Collected        Collected      ticks/100 ft
Edgewood Park                 51             70            0.9
Huddart Park                   8              9            0.2
Laurelwood Park              130            129           12.5
Water Dog Lake                50             97            2.0
Costanoa                      62             63            5.2
Grand Total (12/8/06-1/3/07) 301            368

Previous related entries:

San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance Winter/Spring 2005-06, June 2006
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance Winter/Spring 2005-06, April 2006
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance Winter/Spring 2005-06, March 2006
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance 2006, February 2006
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance 2006, January 2006
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance, November/December 2005
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance, October 2005
San Mateo County: Lyme Disease Surveillance, January 2005