Dover-(Ammoland.com)- DNREC’s Mosquito Control Section begins its annual spring woodland-pool spraying today, treating wooded wetlands near select populated areas in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties.
About 8,000 forested acres that produce large numbers of early season mosquitoes will be strategically sprayed to treat immature aquatic larval stages, using larvicides applied by helicopter and possibly aircraft.
“The colder weather this year has somewhat delayed development of larvae for these species,” said Mosquito Control Administrator Dr. William Meredith, “But it won’t much affect the numbers of adult mosquitoes that will eventually emerge. With woodland flooding conditions upstate running about normal so far but well above normal downstate, potential exists for lots of mosquitoes to emerge.”
Aerial spraying of woodland pools must be completed before the forest canopy fills in with leaves, usually around mid-April, because leaves prevent the insecticide from reaching pools and other wet spots on the forest floor containing larvae. The spring campaign marks the beginning of Delaware’s annual mosquito season, which in most years continues until sometime between mid-October and early November, depending upon when the first killing frost occurs.
“If larval stages of early season mosquitoes are not successfully controlled, an intolerable number of biting adult mosquitoes would take wing in late April and remain through late June, becoming particularly troublesome within one to two miles of their woodland pool origins, and significantly affecting quality of life and human health for residents and visitors alike,” said Dr. Meredith.
“Delaware has about 100,000 acres of wet woodlands during most springs, and it’s not possible for logistical or budgetary reasons to larvicide all woodland mosquito-producing habitats,” Dr. Meredith continued. “Targeting the pools near populated areas is the best return-on-investment in providing mosquito relief to the most people.”
Over the next few weeks, Mosquito Control will apply a bacterially-produced insecticide, Bti. “Like all insecticides used by Mosquito Control, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that Bti, when used in accordance with all EPA-approved instructions as required by federal law, can be applied without posing unreasonable risk to human health, wildlife or the environment,” said Dr. Meredith.
The amount of spraying needed is determined by where and how wet the woodlands are, and can vary from year to year depending on the location and amount of precipitation that has occurred over the past autumn, winter and early spring.
As in the past, advance public notice of when and where spraying will occur this year will be given daily via radio announcements, by calling 800-338-8181 toll-free, or by visiting www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/mosquitocontrol.aspx. Interested parties may also subscribe to receive email notices of mosquito control spray announcements by visiting DNREC’s homepage, www.dnrec.delaware.gov. On the left-hand column under Services, click “email list subscription,” choose “DNREC Mosquito Control Spraying,” and send a blank email to start receiving notices.
During mosquito season, the public is encouraged to do its part to reduce mosquito-producing habitat by cleaning clogged rain gutters, keeping fresh water in birdbaths, draining abandoned swimming pools and emptying standing water from such containers as scrap tires, cans, flower pot liners, unused water cisterns, upright wheelbarrows, uncovered trash cans, depressions in tarps covering boats or other objects stored outside.