How bad are the mosquitoes and other bugs and insects in Puerto Vallarta?
Michael Keller - Guardian Insurance Mexico
In Puerto Vallarta, there are big flying cockroaches as one example of bugs and insects. I have never really had a problem with these cockroaches. Sometimes I will see them in my house, but they will already be turned over on their backs and cannot get up, and then they die. These are not the little cockroaches that come because there is food and grease like I am used to in restaurants in Chicago. These are big ones that may fly in if you leave your door open from the outside. There...In Puerto Vallarta, there are big flying cockroaches as one example of bugs and insects. I have never really had a problem with these cockroaches. Sometimes I will see them in my house, but they will already be turned over on their backs and cannot get up, and then they die. These are not the little cockroaches that come because there is food and grease like I am used to in restaurants in Chicago. These are big ones that may fly in if you leave your door open from the outside. There are, however, very few flying cockroaches. When I leave my door open, these flying cockroaches do not just come in. I do not see them that often. I have never woken up and had one crawling through my hair, for example. I may have had two in my house in the four months since I moved into this new house. I do not know exactly how they get in or what they do, but I always seem to see them when they have already flipped over on their backs and they cannot get up so they die. I have never seen them really crawling around.Another bug problem is that there geckos all over the walls. My mom is super afraid of them so she said she does not even want to come down to Puerto Vallarta because she looked at the US $500 a night hotels and there are even geckos there. You just can't get rid of them. But the thing is these geckos are really nice and really scared of people. They just stay up on the corners of the walls. I have never been able to catch one or touch one. I personally like them and I do not see anything wrong with having these geckos around. I do not mind having them all around my house. You don't even really see them that often. Sometimes when I turn the light on, I will be able to see one scurry away somewhere.
As far as mosquitoes, the situation with them can get bad. Some of the places here in Puerto Vallarta, including the place where I'm in and is more for Mexicans and not for expats, will have a truck like I am used to in Chicago come by every two or three nights spraying mosquito repellent.
The first house that I lived in with my friend did not have any screens on its windows. If you open the windows, all kinds of mosquitoes would come in. That is not good. What I would have to do then is fall asleep with a fan directed at me so the fan blows the mosquitoes away and they cannot get to me. I have screens in my house now. Even if I leave the door open when I let my dog go out the front, I do not really have too many problems with mosquitoes, but they are definitely down here in Puerto Vallarta.
In Chicago, the problem with mosquitoes, bugs, and insects is pretty bad, too. I would not say the problem is worse in Puerto Vallarta than in Chicago. I would say the problem is the same as in Chicago.
The only thing that you have to worry about down here in Puerto Vallarta is dengue fever, which isn't really that common. It brings out the same scare as when the West Nile virus was big and people were afraid of its spread.
I get bit. I think I have a couple on my leg right now that have been itching. It is not that bad that you get eaten alive if you go out. Obviously in the rainy season, it is a little worse.
To stop the spread of mosquitoes in Puerto Vallarta, the local government instructs residents not to leave any standing water around. If you do have standing water, pour bleach in it because that is where mosquitoes lay their eggs and hatch and the bleach will keep this from happening. The government also reminds people to dump out buckets with water that will not be used so that there is no standing water.
(Juliet balcony in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted February 23, 2016
David Schwendeman - Mexlend
In Puerto Vallarta, you either live in the jungle or at the edge of the jungle and it is hot all year long, so the mosquitoes in the north that you might see just for a couple months out of a year we tend to have here all year long. Sometimes parts of the year are heavier, and some parts are lighter, but the city does a pretty good job of spraying public areas and there is a concerted effort for people to alleviate their standing water, so it’s not a huge issue. ...
In Puerto Vallarta, you either live in the jungle or at the edge of the jungle and it is hot all year long, so the mosquitoes in the north that you might see just for a couple months out of a year we tend to have here all year long. Sometimes parts of the year are heavier, and some parts are lighter, but the city does a pretty good job of spraying public areas and there is a concerted effort for people to alleviate their standing water, so it’s not a huge issue. The mosquitos and other insects in Puerto Vallarta don’t change our lifestyle at all. If you’re going to an event or to a restaurant that’s outdoors, you should spray your ankles and legs just to be sure you don’t get bit. Screens on bedroom windows are also a good idea. It’s a minor inconvenience but it’s one that we’re aware of all year long and you can mitigate with common sense.
(Hills and jungle above Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted June 8, 2016
Sheryl Novak - SOLutions Mexico Furniture Store
In the Bay of Banderas (Puerto Vallarta is on the Bay of Banderas), when you’re right on the ocean, you don’t really see any mosquitoes. When you go inland a bit, there are more mosquitoes, so I always recommend spraying if you’re going inland just for precaution. Why bother when there’s a spray? Don’t take chances on your health and have more sick days in life than you have to. There are bugs in Puerto Vallarta. This is a...
In the Bay of Banderas (Puerto Vallarta is on the Bay of Banderas), when you’re right on the ocean, you don’t really see any mosquitoes. When you go inland a bit, there are more mosquitoes, so I always recommend spraying if you’re going inland just for precaution. Why bother when there’s a spray? Don’t take chances on your health and have more sick days in life than you have to. There are bugs in Puerto Vallarta. This is a different climate so you have to get used to different bugs. You’re going to see bugs like cockroaches even if you keep your house pristine, but I only see one that sneaks into my building once a year.
People can easily get freaked out by the geckos here in Puerto Vallarta. Geckos are these little lizards. After a while, you get to like the little guys. Geckos sing to you, and they’re quite fun to watch. Like in every place, you have to take the good with the bad, and if you’re not a big fan of bugs and critters, you might want to go higher up in your building.
(House gecko, pictured.)
Posted March 15, 2017
Peter F Gordon, MD - Lake Medical Group
Mosquitoes could be a problem in Puerto Vallarta because of dengue and chikungunya, which are tropical diseases that might occur in this area. The Health Department is on top of these diseases all the time. There's a spray program and they're teaching the people to eliminate stagnant water in their areas. These have reduced the occurrence of dengue and chikungunya quite a bit. Mosquitoes have not really been a big problem in Puerto Vallarta. .png)
...
Mosquitoes could be a problem in Puerto Vallarta because of dengue and chikungunya, which are tropical diseases that might occur in this area. The Health Department is on top of these diseases all the time. There's a spray program and they're teaching the people to eliminate stagnant water in their areas. These have reduced the occurrence of dengue and chikungunya quite a bit. Mosquitoes have not really been a big problem in Puerto Vallarta. (Chikungunya rash on a foot, pictured.)
Posted October 26, 2017