Do you have standing water such as a neighboring foreclosed home with a swimming pool that has been neglected that is an ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes?

If you do the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District has a free and environmentally safe way to help you. The district is giving away free mosquitofish this week in recognition of National Mosquito Control Awareness Week.

 “Ideal places to use mosquitofish to prevent mosquito development are ornamental ponds, animal water troughs, and neglected swimming pools,” said Aaron Devencenzi, public information officer with the district.

A maximum of 15 fish will be provided to each resident as long as supplies last. Residents will be asked to provide their name, address and location where fish will be placed. Mosquitofish will only be provided to residents who live within San Joaquin County.

The locations of the giveaways are:

•Ripon – Wednesday, June 29, 9 to 11 a.m., Ripon City Hall parking lot at 259 N. Wilma Ave.

•Manteca – Thursday, June 30, 9 to 11:30 a.m., Manteca Senior Center parking lot (enter at 295 Cherry Lane).

•Lathrop – Thursday, June 30, 1 to 2 p.m., Manuel Valverde Park, 15557 Fifth St.

 Mosquitofish were first introduced in California in 1922 and have since spread throughout the state. They are a live-bearing minnow closely related to the common guppy. Mosquitofish are temperature dependent for reproduction, but typically breed from mid-spring to fall in the San Joaquin Valley. They reproduce at intervals of about six weeks, with on average about 50 young in a single brood. Mosquitofish are the primary biological control agent for the San Joaquin County Mosquito & Vector Control District.

To request District service, call 982.4675or visit the district website at www.sjmosquito.org