The City implements a mosquito control program every year and trained crews regularly spray for mosquitoes. However, the spray treatment kills only adult mosquitoes. Mosquito eggs and larvae are not affected. Homeowners and business managers can help to keep the mosquito population down. A mosquito must have water to complete a life cycle and reproduce. Most mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water or in small water-holding containers where thousands can hatch in as little as a day. There are a number of simple and positive steps that can be taken to reduce the number these pesky creatures. • Remove any standing water from your yard. Get rid of old tires, tin cans, buckets, drums, bottles, or any other water-holding containers.
• Fill in or drain any low places such as puddles, ruts, ditches, etc. in your yard.
• Keep drains, ditches and culverts clean of weeds and trash so water will drain properly.
• Cover trash containers to keep out rainwater.
• Repair leaky pipes and outdoor faucets.
• Empty the children's wading pool at least once a week and store it indoors when it's not being used.
• Make sure the swimming pool is properly cared for while on vacation.
• Fill water-holding holes in trees and hollow stumps with sand or concrete.
• Change the water in birdbaths, plant pots and drip trays at least once a week.
• Keep the lawn cut short and shrubbery well trimmed around the house to reduce hiding areas for adult mosquitoes. MOSQUITO MYTHS Nearly 1.75 million homeowners have turned to the use of ultraviolet or black light electrocutors, more commonly known as bug zappers, in an attempt to control the mosquito nuisance problem. Researchers have found that while these traps can attract and kill thousands of insects within a 24-hour period, in one study, mosquitoes comprised only 6.4% of a five-day insect catch. Not only was the mosquito population a small percentage of all insects killed during this particular study, but only half of the mosquitoes killed were the blood-sucking females. Another common mosquito myth is that the Citrosa plant is a mosquito deterrent. Currently, no studies are available to support the idea that the Citrosa plant actually repels mosquitoes. In fact, some researchers believe that the only way the Citrosa plant can release the Citronella oil is if the plant is touched or disturbed by something much larger than a mosquito. For more information about how you can help control the mosquito population visit the Environmental Protection Agency's website at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes.
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