Whitpain To Be Sprayed For Mosquito Control, County Says

Whitpain Township will be sprayed to help control mosquito populations and prevent the spread of West Nile Virus, the Montgomery County Health Department said.

In the latest round of mosquito testing, the borough of Lansdale had two samples which tested positive for West Nile Virus, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said. Those test results were released on September 8.

The spraying will be conducted, weather permitting, on Tuesday, September 13, from 7:45 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.

Sprayings throughout the region have become more common as the summer wanes and populations continue to grow. In addition to Whitpain, townships like Lower Merion, Falls, Tredyffrin, and more have been sprayed this summer.

The area bordered by Skippack Pike on the southwest, North Wales Road on the northwest, Morris Road on the northeast, and Dekalb Pike on the southeast will be sprayed. This includes Blue Bell Country Club property.

Workers will be using Duet Duel-action Adulticide at a rate of .75 fluid ounces per acre applied with a truck mounted Ultra Low Volume (ULV) sprayer, as is customary for sprayings in the region.

The health department has issued several tips to help residents avoid mosquito infestations and occurrences of West Nile:

• Identify and eliminate all sources of standing water that collect on your property. Mosquitoes will breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days.

• Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or similar water holding containers that have collected on your property. Do not overlook containers that have become overgrown by aquatic vegetation.

• Pay special attention to discarded tires that may have collected water on your property. They can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left out of doors. Drainage holes that are located on the container sides collect enough water for mosquitoes to breed in.

• Have clogged roof gutters cleaned on an annual basis, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to block drains.
• Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. A wading pool becomes a place for mosquitoes to breed if it is not used on a regular basis.

• Turn over wheelbarrows and do not allow water to stagnate in birdbaths.

• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens are fashionable but become major mosquito breeding grounds if they are allowed to stagnate.
• Keep swimming pools clean and chlorinated. A swimming pool that is left untended becomes a source of mosquito breeding. Be aware that mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on swimming pool covers.

A rain date has been set for Tuesday, September 20.

Patch file photo.