Mosquito Treatment Set for Next Week

If you've recently spent any time outside between dusk and dawn, chances are you're sporting the telltale signs of summer: mosquito bites.

Last month was the second wettest May in the Chicago area's history, and with the rain came the mosquitoes  - in droves.

Right now, the area is experiencing floodwater mosquitoes, pesky little bugs known for laying their eggs singly in low-lying areas that will eventually be flooded. The bad thing about this variety is their range of flight -- they can fly up 10 to 15 miles from where they hatched.

According to Jack Knight, management analyst for Woodridge, village officials are working with its contractor Clarke Environmental on an aggressive and comprehensive mosquito abatement program. Clarke monitors information on mosquitoes from across the region, coupled with their computerized models to predict new broods being hatched, and coordination between spraying in different communities.

Culex mosquitoes, which carry West Nile virus, aren't expected to make an appearance in the area until August or September. To monitor their arrival, the DuPage County Health Department sets traps throughout the county to check for the  species, but as of June 16, this mapshows no West Nile-carrying mosquitoes in the area. Because culex mosquitoes can only fly one to two miles from where they hatched, they are easier to control, monitor and eliminate.

Together, village and Clarke officials will undertake the following monitoring and treatment activities throughout the year:

• Ongoing trap counts and monitoring of standing bodies of water through-out the season.
• Larviciding activities to kill mosquito larvae before they become adults. This includes chemical applications in standing bodies of water, stocking retention ponds with more than 22,000 mosquito eating fish, and putting altosoid briquettes into storm water catch basins.
• Targeted adulticiding through the use of back-pack and truck spray applications. Unfortunately, the truck spray application is the most ineffective method of control as the spray droplets need to touch the mosquitoes in order to kill them. 

The next larviciding is scheduled for the week of June 20.

Village officials said residents can assist in controlling the mosquito population, and protect themselves, by observing the following:

• When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, as well as light colored long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
• Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens and to keep them shut, especially at night.
• Keep your yard cut short and bushes trimmed so adult mosquitoes will not hide there.
• Discard old tires, tin cans, buckets, bottles, and other water-holding containers.
• Keep gutters and drains clean so that water will drain properly. Repair leaky pipes and faucets.
• Cover trash containers to keep out rainwater.
• Empty plastic wading pools at least once a week and store indoors when not in use.
• Change the water in birdbaths and plant pots at least once a week and stock ornamental ponds with mosquito-eating fish or use mosquito larvae control products.