Whitemarsh Being Sprayed For Mosquitoes Next Week

WHITEMARSH TOWNSHIP, PA — Areas of Whitemarsh Township will be treated with anti-mosquito spray next week as West Nile Virus-carrying mosquitoes pop up in the county, according to Montgomery County officials.

The county said its Office of Public Health (OPH), after consulting with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and Whitemarsh officials, will be spraying to control the adult mosquito population in selected areas.

Spraying event will occur, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. weather permitting on Tuesday, Aug. 27, weather permitting.

In the event of inclement weather, spraying will be done Thursday, Aug. 29.

The spraying will be done where sampling by the OPH and PADEP has shown mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus (WNV).

All areas within the highlighted sections of the map below will be subjected to the spray:

Residents within the spray area should consider remaining indoors, closing windows and turning off ventilation systems that draw-in outside air for the duration of the spray plus 30 minutes after.

Workers will be using Duet dual-action adulticide at a rate of .75 fluid ounces per acre applied with an ATV mounted ultra-low volume (ULV) sprayer. The spray will be performed by OPH personnel.

The OPH will work with appropriate agencies to identify, eliminate and/or treat with larvacide, areas where mosquitoes are breeding. Residents may contact the OPH at (610) 278-5117 if they are concerned about an area of standing water that may be breeding mosquitoes. The adult mosquito control program will only be used in limited situations to reduce disease-infected adult mosquitoes.

Some tips for everyone to do around the home to help eliminate mosquito-breeding areas:

• Identify and eliminate all sources of standing water that collect on your property. Mosquitoes will breed in any stagnant water that lasts for 5 or more 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.