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Jul 06, 2023

Controlling mosquitoes takes all of us

Even the current heat wave hasn’t seemed to detour one of the most common summer pests – the mosquito, with swarms of these bugs plaguing the area. Recent rains have created ample breeding

Even the current heat wave hasn’t seemed to detour one of the most common summer pests – the mosquito, with swarms of these bugs plaguing the area.

Recent rains have created ample breeding opportunities for the insects. The hot weather should help kill them off, however, it hasn’t, said Great Bend Public Works Director Jason Cauley.

The city is taking steps in helping with this problem by continuing its fogging efforts on Thursday evenings. The spraying will last from 8 p.m. until midnight, weather permitting.

“As a precautionary measure, people should keep pets inside and keep doors and windows closed during the spaying even though the chemical is not dangerous to pets or people,” Cauley said.

Street Department personnel will apply insecticides from a fog machine mounted in pickup trucks running the main routes throughout the city. They alternate between two chemicals, one kills the bugs and one sterilizes them.

They don’t do alleyways or back yards even though with the right wind the chemical can reach these areas, city officials said.

But, he said, everyone can help with the campaign.

“The biggest single thing people can do is eliminate all stagnant water, emphasis on the stagnant part,” he said. While he mentioned such things as bird baths and buckets, “a bottle of water is enough for mosquitoes to breed.”

Other steps include making sure yards are mowed, he said. “We just want to eliminate all possible places they can breed.

Background

Mosquitoes transmit a variety of arboviruses or arthropod-borne viruses. People serve as primary vertebrate hosts for viruses such as Chikungunya, Dengue, Yellow fever, and Zika virus, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Two mosquito species that are known to transmit these viruses are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

Both mosquito species are found in Kansas, as well as other species such as Culex mosquitos which can transmit West Nile Virus. West Nile Virus, and all other arboviral diseases.

These insects are most active during the late spring, summer, and early fall months. They particularly like to be active during the evening hours and when it is humid outside, but can bite at any time of the day, the KDHE notes.

How to reduce the number of breeding areas for mosquitoes:

• Eliminate artificial water-holding containers. If that is not possible, empty buckets, cans, bottles, used tires and other containers at least once a week.

• Clean birdbaths and water bowls for animals at least once a week.

• Fill or drain tree holes, stumps and puddles.

• Irrigate gardens and lawns carefully to prevent water standing for more than a few days.

• Check for water trapped in plastic covers on boats and swimming pools.

• Make sure rain gutters are clean and do not hold water.

• Stock garden ponds with mosquito-eating fish, such as minnows and goldfish.

• Aerate ponds and swimming pools.

• Eliminate aquatic vegetation around the edges of garden ponds, which will allow predatory fish and beneficial predatory insects to reach the mosquito larvae.

• When feasible, raise and lower the water level to allow predatory fish to reach the mosquito larvae.

• Make sure yards are mowed.

How to reduce the chance of getting bitten by mosquitoes:

• Apply insect repellent containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide).

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants treated with repellents containing DEET or permethrin. Keep in mind mosquitoes can bite through thin clothing. Do not apply permethrin directly on your skin.

• Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn, which are the periods when mosquitoes are most active.

• When outdoors, place netting over infant carriers.

• Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.

• Mosquito traps based on release of CO2 does not reduce the mosquito population to the point there is a noticeable decline in mosquito numbers.

• Traps based on ultra sound technology are not effective for reducing the nuisance level.