Recent heavy rains in the Florence, Penrose, and Canon City area brought welcome moisture to the region but also created headaches with damaged roads and culverts plus new problems with a surge in the mosquito population. The Fremont County Commissioners' office has received several calls this week about the large hatch of mosquitoes following the rainstorms which left standing water in many places, particularly in the Florence and Penrose areas.
Fremont County West Nile Virus program coordinator J.R. Phillips has shifted his attention from his weed control duties in recent days to the mosquito problem. Phillips says four sets of mosquito traps were set up Wednesday night. A check Thursday morning showed 2,300 mosquitoes had been trapped but only one was a Culex tarsalis mosquito. That is the mosquito which is the principal transmitter of the West Nile Virus. Phillips said more mosquito traps will be set up to monitor for Culex tarsalis populations but he says the samples so far this spring and summer have not shown any significant threat from the Culex species.
Beyond monitoring for the potential of West Nile Virus, Phillips says the best way to deal with the exploding population of mosquitoes is educating people on how to get rid of standing water so mosquito breeding areas can be eliminated. If standing water is eliminated weekly, many mosquitoes will be kept from breeding in the first place, eliminating the need to use pesticides against adult mosquitoes. This also reduces the number of mosquitoes around the house.
You should remove standing water in ponds, ditches, clogged rain gutters, flower pots, plant saucers, puddles, buckets, jars and cans. Also check for items that might hold water including wheelbarrows, tires, hubcaps, toys, garden equipment, pool covers, tarps, plastic sheeting, pipes, drains, boats, canoes, recycling bins and trash.
Fremont County West Nile Virus program coordinator J.R. Phillips has shifted his attention from his weed control duties in recent days to the mosquito problem. Phillips says four sets of mosquito traps were set up Wednesday night. A check Thursday morning showed 2,300 mosquitoes had been trapped but only one was a Culex tarsalis mosquito. That is the mosquito which is the principal transmitter of the West Nile Virus. Phillips said more mosquito traps will be set up to monitor for Culex tarsalis populations but he says the samples so far this spring and summer have not shown any significant threat from the Culex species.
Beyond monitoring for the potential of West Nile Virus, Phillips says the best way to deal with the exploding population of mosquitoes is educating people on how to get rid of standing water so mosquito breeding areas can be eliminated. If standing water is eliminated weekly, many mosquitoes will be kept from breeding in the first place, eliminating the need to use pesticides against adult mosquitoes. This also reduces the number of mosquitoes around the house.
You should remove standing water in ponds, ditches, clogged rain gutters, flower pots, plant saucers, puddles, buckets, jars and cans. Also check for items that might hold water including wheelbarrows, tires, hubcaps, toys, garden equipment, pool covers, tarps, plastic sheeting, pipes, drains, boats, canoes, recycling bins and trash.
The Commissioners note that the County's mosquito control efforts utilize a grant obtained by the Fremont County Nursing Office to distribute BTI donut-shaped floating rings which are used to biologically control mosquito breeding areas. Placement of a floating ring in standing water should help kill mosquito larvae up to 30 days. A supply of 18 BTI briquettes can be purchased at the Fremont County Extension Office on the lower level of the County Administration Building in Canon City for a price of $15. The BTI mosquito larvae briquettes are also available commercially at most local hardware stores and garden centers.
Fremont County Road crews also carry a supply of the BTI briquettes to place in standing water in roadside ditches and other County rights-of-way to eliminate mosquito larvae that might hatch on County property.
County Commissioner Ed Norden says Fremont County has not used spraying rigs or aerial spraying to control mosquitoes for at least ten years. He says spraying was discontinued after numerous citizens complained that the spraying created its own set of health concerns and liabilities. Commissioner Mike Stiehl says that Fremont County also made the decision not to spray or fog for adult mosquitoes because of the limited effectiveness. Instead, the County treats standing water, killing several generations of mosquitoes.
For more information about dealing with the fight against mosquitoes and West Nile Virus, including the use of insect repellents containing 'DEET', the Commissioners urge you to visit the Colorado State Health Department's web site www.fightthebitecolorado.com.