Mosquitoes

[tbird]

The town said on August 13th that they were going to be doing some innovative mosquito control in Old Wethersfield. Does anyone know what the new techniques are, and where the work was done. Parts of town are now overrun with mosquitoes. I welcome any help the town can provide.

[Dr.Ken Sokolowski]

tbird,
Welcome to this Wethersfield forum, the land of the cyber-citizens and cyber-insurgents, the visible and invisible, the informed and misinformed, the leaders and the misleaders, the wannabes and the has-beens, the common and the uncommon, the vocal and the voyeurs.
Dr.Ken

Date: August 13, 2008
To: Local Media
From: Paul Hutcheon, Director of Health
Phone [phone]

Please publish the attached press release as soon as possible. If you have any questions you may call me at the above number. Thank you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Beginning of 8/13/2008 notice which was briefly on the TOW Announcement page: wethersfieldct.com/announcements

Wethersfield Plans Mosquito Treatment

The Town of Wethersfield has hired a licensed mosquito control contractor to help reduce the adult mosquito population in the northeastern portion of town. Innovative Mosquito Management, Inc. will be applying a fog like product on August 13, 2008 from approximately 7:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. The areas to be treated will be posted and include Cove Park, Solomon Welles House, Town Garage and the neighborhood near Kelly Ave. The product to be used is called Scourge and contains resmethrin and piperonyl butoxide as active ingredients. This treatment follows the catch basin larvaciding program performed this summer by the Town.

Residents are asked to close their windows, turn off air conditioners and avoid direct exposure. The vehicles will be driving at approximately 6 miles per hour as they apply the fog. The fog will dissipate in approximately 20 – 30 minutes after application.

Anyone with questions may contact either the Central CT Health District at 721-2828 or Innovative Mosquito Management at [phone]. Information is also available on the CCHD web site at www.ccthd.org.

End of 8/13/2008 notice on TOW Announcement page

The balance of the full notice which comprises most of the current (?for how long) notice on the TOW Annoucement page: wethersfieldct.com/announcements

Precautions to avoid mosquito exposure include:
• Avoid outdoor activities one hour before and one hour after dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors; it is especially important to cover the arms and legs of children.
• Use a mosquito repellent with no more than 30% DEET; products with 15% or less DEET are recommended for children. Use sparingly, following the product’s directions. NOTE: No product containing DEET should be used on infants.
• Cover babies’ playpens and carriages with mosquito netting when outdoors.
• Avoid camping near fresh water swamps and use mosquito netting in tents.
• Stay indoors when mosquitoes are numerous.
• Eliminate sources of standing water such as stagnant ponds, ditches, even flower pots and old tires. (A mosquito only needs a few tablesthingys of water to lay eggs.) Drain children’s pools, clean clogged gutters, and flush birdbaths and fountains once or twice a week. Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, and any similar containers that have accumulated on your property, and drill holes in the bottoms of recycling and garbage containers that are left outside.
• Make sure your property is graded properly and has adequate drainage. Look for places where rainwater collects and fill all holes and depressions. Mosquitoes will breed in any puddle that lasts more than 4 days.
• Store boats, wheelbarrows, and containers upside down. If you have a pond, be sure it is aerated or stocked with fish. Goldfish and minnows eat mosquito larvae.
• Patch holes in screens and making sure screens are tightly attached to doors and windows.
• Use low toxicity insecticides, always following the directions on the products. (When applying sprays, be sure to keep the wind at your back, carry the spray away from you, and avoid personal contact with it and excessive inhalation of spray materials.)
• Place bat houses on your property.