Daytime bug bites rise as invasive mosquitoes expand in SoCal

LOS ANGELES () — An invasive species of mosquitoes that have been booming in Northern California have now been confirmed here in Southern California.

Vector Control says these aggressive pests, the Aedes Aegypti, are fueling a big surge in daytime bites across local neighborhoods. They are already thriving in 28 counties, including L.A., Orange County and the Inland Empire.

Officials say they can breed in something as small as a bottle cap. They don’t carry West Nile here, but health officials warn they can spread dengue and yellow fever.

In the U.S., A. aegypti is typically found in the South, Southwest and Puerto Rico. It is also commonly found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, including countries in Africa, Asia and southern Europe, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.