October 5, 2006

• The city received an average of 0.90 inches of rain last week.
• The mosquito activity is a 3. The mosquito activity increased because of a horse testing positive for West Nile Virus in Suffolk and a general increase in mosquito numbers due to past tropical rainfall.
• Mosquito activity is higher along the city’s southern and western margins, while numbers in the interior remain fairly constant.

• 9 CDC style light traps were set this week, a total of 1,102 mosquitoes were caught, for an average of 123 per trap. Trap counts dropped by 30% from last week.
• Larval surveillance from the aerial larvicide treatment has shown very good results. Very few new mosquito larvae have been found. Crews will continue to monitor the treated areas for any larval activity.
• The U.S. Air Force Spray Team’s treatment of northern Churchland and adjacent federal properties appears to have been very successful in reducing mosquito numbers in those areas treated.

• We received 5 complaint calls this week.

• Spray crews truck fogged 1,948.5 acres of the city this week.
• Crews continue to monitor storm drains and catch basins, as well as roadside ditches for larvae and have treated those areas with activity.

• Discarded tires (including tire swings) are excellent mosquito breeding sites. Once water has gotten into an old tire, it is almost impossible to remove all the water.
• Old tires and tire piles can provide container-breeding mosquitoes with what is essentially a permanent water source to lay their eggs all summer long.
• One old tire can continually produce hundreds of mosquitoes in your own back yard or neighborhood.
• Remember to please dispose of tires properly, and if tires must be stored, to store them under shelter to prevent them from filling with water.
• If you must have a tire swing, drill a few holes in the bottom of the tire to prevent water from collecting in the swing.