August 10, 2006

• The major heat wave has broken but dry conditions still are limiting mosquito breeding. The city received only 0.40 inches of rain last week, this was not enough rain to trigger major mosquito breeding.
• One pool of mosquitoes tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) from the Mayflower Park area of the city. The mosquitoes that tested positive only feed on birds. Testing these mosquitoes is an early warning tool used for monitoring mosquito virus activity in the city.
• Declining trap counts, dry conditions, and initial presence of EEE in mosquitoes keep the mosquito activity at a 2. Citizens should keep vigilant emptying out standing water around their houses and use insect repellant that contains DEET or Picaridin to prevent mosquito bites.

• 10 CDC style light traps were set this week, a total of 398 mosquitoes were caught, for an average of 40 per trap. Trap counts were down 50% from last week.
• 7 Gravid style traps were set this week, a total of 352 mosquitoes were caught, for an average of 50 per trap. Gravid trap counts increased this week but are still well below normal for this time of year.
• Staff will continue to submit mosquito pools for testing as needed for the remainder of the season.

• We received 1 complaint call this week.

• Crews adulticide (truck fogged) in and around sites with elevated trap counts and the positive pool of mosquitoes earlier this week.

• Corrugated drain pipes, pictured below, often attached to the end of down spouts produce larger numbers of tiger mosquitoes. One drain pipe can produce several hundred mosquitoes each month.
• Citizens are encouraged to discard corrugated drain pipes and use other means to drain water away from the house foundation that do not trap and hold water (ie. Spash pans, smooth pipe).