"We have found a high number of mosquitoes known to transmit the West Nile virus in Willow Glen," said Kriss Costa, community resource specialist for the Santa Clara County Vector Control District.

The number of mosquitoes in the Willow Glen area is 20 percent higher than the "acceptable" threshold, she said.

In addition, most of the birds found with the West Nile virus have come from Willow Glen and the surrounding areas.

The district has treated all the public areas it can and is concerned the mosquitoes are coming from residents' backyards.

"We do not have the manpower to go door to door," Costa said.

The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association will distribute a letter from the vector district to residents on its e-list, WGNA president Helen Solinski said.

"We are asking residents to check their backyards for anything that might hold stagnant water," Costa said.

Costa pointed out that tarps and pool covers are great incubators for mosquitoes. Residents wrinkle them up but they still hold stagnant water, which creates a mosquito breeding ground.

Vector control has volunteers who plan to walk through the areas with the greatest infestation, leaving door hangers with information on the importance of draining standing water.

Costa also wants residents to call the district if they notice mosquitoes in the area.

The vector district is not the only agency asking residents to help control the mosquito population.

"The county has put fliers in utility bills telling residents how to prevent water from pooling," said Caroline Judy, chief of staff to Santa Clara County District 4 Supervisor Jim Beall.

An informational flier is also located on the county's website, www.sccgov.org, containing information about the West Nile virus and how to stop mosquitoes from breeding.

The "fight the bite" flier has a home-and-garden checklist that details areas where mosquitoes can incubate.

There could be a lot of incubation spots in backyards, Willow Glen resident Larry Ames said.

He speculated that some residents may have pet dishes outside that they do not change frequently, old spare tires that have been forgotten, potted plants holding water, stagnant ponds and even gutters when the water does not drain or evaporate quickly.

"I changed my gutter and now I have noticed it is holding water," he said.

Highest mosquito count areas in Willow Glen:

--Area between Lincoln and Juanita avenues

--Area between Willow Street and Pine Avenue

--Area between Lincoln and Glen Una avenues

--Area between Hervey Lane and Capurso Way

--Area between Dawson Avenue and Northern Road

--Area between Mackey Avenue and Cross Way

--Area between Stone Avenue and Little Orchard Street

--All of Delbarr Court

For additional information contact Vector Control, 976 Lenzen Ave., at 408.792.5010 or email Kriss Costa at Kriss.Costa@deh.co.santa-clara.ca.us.