Mosquito Numbers Expected to Rise Soon

Recent wet weather means more mosquitoes are just around the corner. The WheatonMosquito Abatement District is expecting the number of nuisance mosquitoes to increase during the next two weeks. However, the District offers a number of actions you can take to eliminate breeding sites near your home.

The mosquitoes that were present in this region in June laid eggs in areas prone to flooding. Wheaton received enough rain at the end of July to flood these areas with water and start the development of a new batch of floodwater mosquitoes. The eggs have hatched and the mosquitoes have started their development into adults. The District will be monitoring its seven adult mosquito traps to determine if and when a spray treatment might be necessary.

The District inspects 490 potential mosquito breeding sites throughout the summer. When it finds a problem, the water is treated to prevent the mosquitoes from developing into adults. The District’s last inspection revealed that 22 percent of the sites were actively breeding mosquitoes.

The Wheaton Mosquito Abatement District encourages you to check your own property for containers that might be holding water and breeding mosquitoes. Even the smallest container that collects water can breed hundreds to thousands of mosquitoes (buckets, bottles, cans, trash can lids, flower pots, etc.). If you can’t remove these containers, empty them at least weekly during wet weather. If you eliminate the water, you will stop the development of mosquitoes into biting adults.

Some other things you can do to help the Wheaton Mosquito Abatement District control mosquitoes are:

• Clear roof gutters of debris so that they drain properly.
• Repair leaky outdoor faucets.
• Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.
• Maintain outdoor pools and prevent water from collecting on pool covers.
• Maintain outdoor water structures such as ornamental ponds and fountains.
• Make sure that rain barrels are properly screened to prevent mosquito access. If screening is not present or in good repair, mosquitoes will enter the barrel and lay eggs that will develop into new adult mosquitoes.
• Check and empty any water collecting in children’s toys.
• Clean outdoor pet dishes regularly.
• Properly compost or dispose of yard waste. Grass clippings and other organic waste placed in wet areas frequently become attractive mosquito breeding sites.
• Store canoes and other boats upside down or tarp them to prevent water from collecting inside.
• Fill low spots in the yard that collect and hold water.
• Dispose of any tires or move them indoors.

The Wheaton Mosquito Abatement District is a separate entity from the City of Wheaton. The District covers 23 square miles and includes most of Wheaton as well as sections of Carol Stream, Glendale Heights and unincorporated Milton Township. Clarke (www.clarke.com) has been contracted to provide all mosquito control services this year. Questions about the District’s mosquito control program should be directed to Clarke’s mosquito hotline at 1-800-942-2555.