Short Bites Monthly

Your digest for January 2026.

This Short Bites Monthly e-blast shares insight into the past month's activity. This ensures that our data as a public health agency remains transparent to the public and to people who are interested in our mission.

The image features two professionals, a diverse team, alongside a service truck, promoting community engagement. — **We continue to provide the highest level of protection from vectors and vector-borne diseases to reduce outbreaks of human diseases in San Gabriel Valley.**

District Communication

As we step into this new year, we are reminded that public health is about more than just following the science, it’s about the heart we put into every neighborhood and the trust we build with every resident. From the connections made through visiting classrooms to working with families who were affected by the Eaton fire, your partnership has been the light that guides our mission.

The image shows a building labeled "Administration" with desert landscaping and a cactus, marked for the Mosquito & Vector Control District. — *Image of the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.*

Looking ahead, we feel a profound sense of hope. Whether we are creating sustainable programs, like the SGV Mosquito Match or meeting you at a local event, our goal remains to keep you feeling supported, empowered, and safe from mosquitoes. We are so excited to continue this journey of transparency with you.

Thank you for being the most essential part of our work. Let’s look forward to a healthy and bite-free year together!

Outreach In Your Community

The image features a stylized mosquito and text emphasizing "IN DISEASE CONTROL," highlighting the role of mosquitoes in disease transmission. — **We continue to maintain essential vector surveillance including mosquito traps for disease testing, providing weekly data to** **the District, and maintaining** **mosquito fish**.

To ensure a proactive and healthy start to the season, our routine surveillance efforts officially begin this March.

A person examines insects under a microscope, using tweezers to handle them, with lab equipment visible. — *Image of Assistant Vector Ecologist sorting mosquito according to species.*

Our dedicated team will be out across the San Gabriel Valley deploying traps to monitor mosquito abundance, identifying local species, and conducting vital disease monitoring. This essential data allows us to stay one step ahead, ensuring our resources are focused exactly where they are needed most to keep our neighborhoods safe and bite-free.

The image features the phrase "IN EDUCATION," an illustration of a magnifying glass, and cartoon mosquitoes, suggesting a focus on mosquito-related topics in education. — **We continue to provide excellent** **science education** **services and** **reduce mosquitoes in homes and schools** **within the San Gabriel Valley.**

District Representation

The District is honored to contribute to the collective knowledge of our field at the 2026 Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) conference. This year, seven of our team members have the privilege of presenting on a variety of topics, sharing the lessons we’ve learned and the "how" behind our recent projects. While we are proud of our progress, we recognize that the best solutions come from shared expertise and constant learning.

A group of people seated in a meeting room, focused on a presentation about public perceptions of mosquito control. — *Image of District employees finalizing presentations for the 2026 Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) conference.*

We invite you to visit our dedicated In the Spotlight page to explore our past research and join us in the ongoing effort to better serve the residents of the San Gabriel Valley. The web page will be updated next month to include presentation abstracts for MVCAC 2026.

Current EcoHealth Programs

Little Champions Preschool Program

Help shape the next generation with healthy and bite-free habits. Little Champions Preschool program will turn your students into little champions who care about their health and their community.

Learn More

A teacher shows kids mosquito structures using magnifying glasses and educational posters at a classroom table.

Mosquito Intelligence Academy

M.I.A. is a free, K-12, NGSS-aligned, hands-on science lesson, where students are empowered to take charge of their properties and halt the mosquito invasion.

Learn More

Kids examining a display of insects in a classroom setting, using a magnifying tool for a closer look.

Did you know that there's a lot of misinformation on Sterile Insect Technique (S.I.T.)?

We're here to clear that up through our S.I.T. Mythbusters series:

MYTH: Released mosquitoes will bite and transmit disease.

FACT: Mosquito-borne diseases are transmitted through the bite of female mosquitoes. Only male mosquitoes are sterilized and released into the wild. Male mosquitoes do not have mouth parts that allow them to break our skin. They only feed on nectar. Released sterile male mosquitoes’ sole focus is to seek out and mate with wild females, but because they can’t bite, they can’t transmit diseases.