Mosquito Update From Paul Fox, Mosquito Coordinator for Northumberland County Conservation District

Dear Municipalities,

This is Paul Fox, Mosquito Coordinator for Northumberland County Conservation District, with another seasonal update. Next week we start setting traps called BG Sentinel traps, we use these traps to look for female mosquitos looking to bite humans and animals. With all the recent rain there is a lot of ponding creating habitat for mosquitos to breed. Emily Young, the Seasonal Mosquito Technician, is working in Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties.

Wear protective clothes: Cover your skin with long sleeves and pants. I personally recommend spraying your clothes with a repellent that has the active ingredient permethrin.

Use insect repellent: Apply EPA-registered insect repellents.

Avoid perfumes: Mosquitoes are attracted to scents.

Stay clean: Sweat and body odor attract mosquitoes.

Keep your property dry: Mosquitoes breed in standing water.

Close your windows: Use screens to keep mosquitoes out.

Stay indoors when mosquitoes are active: Mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk.

Remove Standing Water– Empty, drain, or cover all things that can and may hold standing water. Mosquitos can breed in as little as 1–2 fl oz (30–59 ml) of water, clear out any areas of your backyard or porch where rainwater can pool. So, begin by touring your property to find any sources of standing or stagnant water. This is where mosquitoes lay their eggs, you can prevent this by diverting water found in buckets, garbage cans, tarps, and other areas where water may collect. The combination of still water and plant life attracts mosquitoes. A backyard pond is an interesting landscape feature. Install a fountain and some fish that are known to eat mosquito larvae, such as goldfish, guppies, or killifish if your climate allows.

Promote Drainage– Wherever your landscape regularly accumulates water after rainfall or watering the lawn. Fill those areas with soil or grade them if possible. A&A can help with drainage.

Clean Gutters– If they are filled with debris, they will trap water during the next rainfall instead of letting it drain. Mosquitoes will then breed in this standing water. Ensure your downspouts are strategically located and maintained so that the flow of water is directed away from the area and adequately dispersed.

Mow Your Lawn Weekly– Mosquitoes aren’t likely to lay eggs on tall grass, but they tend to sit in the tall grass for rest and hiding. Keep your grass as short as possible and mow as frequently as possible. Also, ensure bushes and shrubs are well-trimmed.

Repel Mosquitoes with Plants– Plant some mosquito-repelling flowers and herbs, especially near areas that are prone to collect water. You can place them directly into your garden, or you can place them in flowerpots. Mosquitoes don’t like the smell of these plants and will stay away from them.

Change Lighting– The best (and least appealing to insects) was a warm colored LED light – those are the LEDs that produce a yellow/orange hue, rather than cool blue light. Impressively, the yellow-hued LEDs turned out to be even better than ‘bug lights.

Maintain Swimming Pools– If you have a small plastic pool meant to be used temporarily, make sure you drain all the water and store it indoors when it’s not in use. If you have a backyard swimming pool, monitor the chlorine levels regularly, and keep the pool clean. Adequate water filtration and circulation help to keep the water clean and moving and your pool cover can prevent chemicals from evaporation and keep insects out when not in use.

Clean Birdbaths Weekly– If you have a birdbath outside your house, the stagnant water is a perfect place for mosquitoes to lay eggs. Minimize mosquitoes breeding thereby changing the water and scrubbing down the bath at least once a week, preferably more frequently.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns, or complaints. Thank you so much for helping us keep communities safe from mosquito-borne illnesses!

To reach Emily her email is: ftsmosquito@nccdpa.org

Best Regards,

Paul Fox  |  Environmental Resource Technician

Northumberland County Conservation District

228 Houser Road

Sunbury, PA 17801-6064

Office: 570-495-4665 x303

Web: www.nccdpa.org