Mosquito Spraying is Thursday

Due to high mosquito counts recorded in this area, the Wheaton Mosquito Abatement District has scheduled a mosquito spraying for the entire district on Thursday, June 30, 2011. Applications are typically made from dusk until 2 a.m. In case of rain or other unacceptable weather condition, the treatment will be rescheduled for Friday, July 1.

The district’s mosquito services contractor, Clarke (www.clarke.com), operates seven traps in the district to monitor adult mosquito populations. When the contractor sees the population rise to a nuisance level, adulticide sprays are used to reduce the number of adult mosquitoes. The heavy rains in May and June have led to very high mosquito counts in all of the district’s traps as well as throughout the area.

The spray treatments use an advanced adulticide formulation that flushes mosquitoes from their resting places and enables more mosquitoes to be killed. Depending upon the geographic location within the district, applications are made by truck, all-terrain vehicle, or helicopter. The products used in mosquito control are approved specifically for this purpose and are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. This application, in addition to the District’s ongoing larvicide program, will help control the nuisance mosquito population.

Any time mosquitoes are active, the district encourages residents to “fight the bite” and take personal protection measures against mosquito bites. Some things to do include:

• Avoid outdoor activity when mosquitoes are present and active. Dawn and dusk are the periods of the day when mosquitoes are most apt to bite.
• Wear protective clothing when outside, such as light-colored, long-sleeved shirt and pants.
• Use insect repellants to discourage the mosquitoes from landing and biting. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control provides current information on mosquito repellants (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/mosquitorepellent.htm).
• Call Clarke’s mosquito hotline (1-800-942-2555) to report mosquito problems.

Because of all the rain this area has received, the district asks residents to continue checking their own property for standing water that could breed more mosquitoes. Any container that holds water will attract female mosquitoes that are looking for a place to lay their eggs. Emptying these containers on a weekly basis will disrupt the mosquitoes’ life cycle.

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. Questions and comments about the District’s integrated mosquito management program should be directed to Clarke’s mosquito hotline at 1-800-942-2555.