NORTHWEST MOSQUITO ABATEMENT
DISTRICT
147
Phone: (847) 537-2306
Fax: (847) 537-2583
www.nwmadil.com
Mosquito Update
May 25, 2004
PRESENT CONTROL STATUS:
NUISANCE
FLOODWATER MOSQUITOES
Rains
between the 10th and 14th of May produced a minor floodwater mosquitoes (Aedes vexans)
hatch. Light traps currently monitoring
these mosquitoes are still in the low single digit counts. Some areas in the District near wetlands and
heavily vegetated areas may experience more problems. Rains between May 20-24 are likely to produce
significantly higher numbers of floodwater mosquitoes that will be blood
feeding around the Memorial Day holiday if temperatures warm up from this point
forward. Numbers of these mosquitoes
will be reduced in the District due to extensive 30-day methoprene larviciding treatments
already in place by our crews, however, the significant amounts of standing
water produced by the flooding conditions will continue to create a multitude of
new mosquito production areas after every new rainfall.
Currently, Aedes vexans has not been implicated as a vector of West
Nile Virus (WNV) to humans. However,
this mammal-biting mosquito was found infected with the virus in Illinois
CULEX
MOSQUITOES
Culex mosquito numbers have been
building earlier than normal as indicated by our gravid traps. This group of mosquitoes is of concern since
they are the type more frequently found infected with WNV. Most
of these mosquitoes produced this early in the season are from above ground
stagnant water sites like containers, ditches, retention/detention ponds,
un-rimmed abandoned tires, clogged rain gutters, flower pots, etc. As the weather warms up underground
production areas like the street catch basins & backyard drainage basins
become important Culex production
areas. The District also treats the
aforementioned water areas with methoprene to control this medically important
group of mosquitoes. It is very important that residents of the District
inspect their own property for stagnant water that can produce these
mosquitoes, regularly, on a weekly basis during the months of May- September. The District has already begun off-road catch
basin treatments and will begin street catch basin treatments shortly as the
temperatures start to increase.
MOSQUITO VIRUS
SURVEILLANCE IN
The Illinois Department of
Public Health has reported infected mosquitoes and a crow in
To date NWMAD has tested
(VecTest) 27 Culex mosquito batches throughout the District. All mosquito batches were negative for West
Nile Virus,
BACKYARD CATCH BASIN
TREATMENTS:
NWMAD has already begun treatment of backyard catch basins with the insect growth regulator methoprene (a.k.a. Altosid). The formulation of briquette we place in the basins will provide season long mosquito control as long as the basins are not cleaned out so that the briquette is removed. Rainfall and additional water (i.e. lawn sprinkling) will not reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. Altosid briquettes are not harmful to people or pets. Basins are only treated if they have sumps or pits that collect and hold water for 10 days or longer. For more information on methoprene (Altosid) visit the following website: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/larvicides4mosquitos.htm.
NOTE: Residences that we treat backyard catch basins will receive a yellow door hanger indicating that we performed the treatment as well as additional mosquito prevention suggestions and the District’s phone number for additional information.
DEAD BIRD SURVIELLANCE INFORMATION:
NWMAD has received 13 dead bird reports. No dead birds infected with WNV have been reported in the NWMAD District as of yet. Cities, villages and the public are encouraged to report dead birds to our District’s Dead Bird/Animal reporting web page, which can be accessed at www.nwmadil.com. Knowing this information allows our District to better focus our control efforts. The Cook County Department of Public Health is testing dead bird for WNV. Anyone wishing to have recently dead crows and blue jays tested for virus may phone the Cook County Department of Public Health at (708) 492-2035.
Research
continues in the development of a WNV vaccine.
To date a company named Acambis has developed
an experimental vaccine that has been tried on humans. The vaccine is based on a modified version of
the yellow-fever virus (belongs to the same family of viruses as WNV- Flaviviridae) and it generated antibodies against WNV in 21
days. The National Institute of Health
has been trying another drug used in
REDUCING THE RISK OF
MOSQUITO BITES:
Avoid outdoor activity if
possible from dusk to dawn when the mosquitoes bite the most. If you do go out wear light colored
protective clothing and insect repellent (always read label warnings and
directions). Make sure mosquitoes do not
enter homes through unscreened or broken doors or windows. Residents are encouraged not to create mosquito
harborage areas. Make sure tall grassy
areas are trimmed and other vegetation is cut back. If plants must be watered do so in the
morning so the vegetation and soil has a chance to dry making it less
attractive to mosquitoes. Empty any
containers holding stagnating water for 7 days or longer like: tire casings,
birdbaths, flowerpots and barrels that may produce mosquitoes. Neglected
swimming pools may produce thousands of mosquitoes. Call the District to report stagnant water
areas that remain wet for more than 7 days.
Additional mosquito avoidance/control practices may be found at the
District’s website: www.nwmadil.com.
Mike Szyska
Director
PLEASE FORWARD
THIS INFORMATION TO APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
