Casey began his career with San Mateo Mosquito and Vector Control District in 2008 as a seasonal Vector Control Aide. Later that year he was hired as a permanent Vector Control Technician and subsequently became the Field Operations Supervisor. In 2022, Casey became the Operations Director at the District. Casey grew up in San Mateo County and is a graduate of California State University Chico, where he received a bachelor's degree in communications.

Casey's answers to a few questions about working with the District:

What is your favorite part of your job? 

I really enjoy helping residents with their problems.  My favorite thing to do is to find a mosquito problem that no one has found.  The feeling I get from finding the mosquito larvae in the standing water is exciting because you’re using clues from your surroundings to figure out where the problem is.

What interest/background brought you to this job?

I came to this job during a transition period in my life.  I started working as a seasonal employee treating storm drains during the summer season and was looking to settle into a career.  During my short time here, I really enjoyed what I was doing and the main thing that drew me to the work was knowing that I was helping people.  At the time, I didn’t really understand the potential disease risk of mosquitoes, but I knew I was helping reduce the nuisance of mosquitoes to the residents of San Mateo County and that felt good.  Now, I also better understand the importance of our work to helping keep people in San Mateo County healthy.

What is your favorite mosquito fact?

My favorite fact about mosquitoes is how many different species there are in the world.  There are over 3,000 species of mosquitoes!  In the United States there are about 176 species of mosquitoes.  My favorite mosquito is the Aedes tahoensis mosquito – also called the snow melt mosquito – that breeds in snow melt pools at high elevations in the Sierra Nevada.

Do you have another favorite mosquito fact you’d like to share?

I find it interesting that some species of mosquito eggs can survive the winter and emerge the following spring.  The eggs can lay dormant in a salt marsh or on containers, and once there is enough water to activate the eggs they will emerge in the spring or summer to wreak havoc on the residents of San Mateo County.  Some of these mosquitoes can fly up to 20 miles.

Our staff work throughout the entire County. What is your favorite spot in the County? And/or where is the best view in the County? 

My favorite part of the County is in East Palo Alto near the Dumbarton Bridge.  This property is closed off to the public because the Hetch Hetchy Pipes run through the property.  This is a quiet area but has the potential to produce a LOT of mosquitoes in the winter and spring.  This mosquito habitat was one of the areas I managed as a Vector Control Technician, and it sits right on the edge of the Bay, which had a lot of historical significance for the residents of San Mateo County.

My favorite view is driving down Melendy Drive in San Carlos – you get a great overview of Bair Island at low tide and high tide.

What is the most common overlooked type of standing water you see on properties you visit?

I would say the most overlooked type of standing water is what residents can’t see, like water underneath a house.  Our technicians regularly check under houses for standing water.  Sometimes the resident did not know about a leaking pipe, and we are able to let them know.  We’ll control the mosquitoes in the meantime while they get their pipe fixed.

Where is the most surprising place you ever found mosquito larvae? 

We found an Aedes aegypti larvae in the base of a basketball hoop where you add water so the hoop won’t tip over.  We were conducting house to house inspections to eradicate this mosquito.  We used a turkey baster to extract mosquito larvae from the base.  It took two and half years, but our team eventually eradicated the mosquito from San Mateo County.  We’re always keeping an eye out for this mosquito, in case it comes back.  It’s a very annoying mosquito – it bites aggressively during the day.  If/when it comes back, we need to detect it quickly.  Residents should always report biting mosquitoes to help us know where to check.

Our staff are outdoorsy and love spending time in nature off-the-clock as well!  What is your favorite hiking/camping/fishing/nature spot in San Mateo County?

My favorite hiking spots in San Mateo County are Water Dog Lake in Belmont and Laurelwood Park in San Mateo.  Lots of great running trails where you won’t see a lot of people.

What residents have to say about Casey