April 26, 2007

• It is time to start talking about mosquitoes again. Staff have made the transition from winter time source reduction efforts to mosquito breeding site inspections and treatments.
• Dry conditions dominate our region. Many areas that are normally wet this time of year are completely dry. The areas that are wet are being inspected and treated as needed.
• Mosquito activity is a 1 for the entire city. Very few adult mosquitoes are around; most activity is juvenile mosquitoes in limited standing water.

• 9 CDC style traps were set this week, with a total of 341 mosquitoes caught, for an average of 38 per trap.
• Areas that historically breed mosquitoes this time of year are being monitored for larval presence, though wet areas are spotty due to dry conditions.
• Back ditches, temporary woodland pools are typical breeding habitats for this time of year. Artificial containers (including tires, buckets, tarps, birdbaths, etc.) are also starting to breed mosquitoes.

• Service requests are low, with only four calls so far this 2007 season. Most calls are in regard to standing water or clogged ditches that have potential to breed mosquitoes.

• Staff is systematically inspecting and treating potential mosquito breeding sites thought the city.
• There are no adult mosquito spraying operations scheduled at this time.

Below are examples of the source reduction efforts this spring that will reduce the need for pesticides to control mosquitoes.

Ditch blockage before clearing debris.	Ditch blockage during clearing of debris.