After wet winter, bug battle begins

Delaware takes aim at what could be a sizable mosquito population this summer.

After a winter season featuring record-setting snowfall and plenty of rain, conditions are ideal for an explosion of the mosquito population.

Delaware environmental officials will launch an assault on the mosquito population starting Friday with the application of larvacide from helicopters.  The state’s mosquito control administrator William Meredith says the effort will target woodland pools near populated areas.  “Targeting pools near populated areas is the best return-on-investment in providing mosquito relief to the most people,” Meredith said.  The spraying will be done on 7,000 to 10,000 acres of the state’s woodland pools.  That only represents about 10% of the states wet woodlands.

Meredith says the pools in southern Delaware especially wetter than usual, which will require more spraying.  “Spurred by these extremely wet conditions, we’ll probably see a lot of adult woodland pool mosquitoes in May and June, but less in or near the areas we sprayed.”

Environmental officials say residents can start now to do their part to reduce the impact of a burgeoning mosquito population.  That work includes cleaning clogged rain gutters, maintaining fresh water in bird feeders, and emptying containers that trap water including scrap tires, wheelbarrows, and uncovered trash cans.

You can find more information on where the spraying will take place on DNRECs website.