It’s that time of year and all though we are officially still in a drought, local health officials are on the lookout for possible breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Any area of stagnant water, especially coffee colored water that is in a shaded area is the perfect home for mosquitoes to flourish. Brownwood/Brown County Sanitation Inspector Paul Coghlan said that now is the time that these little pests’ eggs are hatching and larvae are growing in places such as streams, bird baths, swimming pools, buckets, tall grass and their favorite home – abandoned tires.
The Health Department is currently performing Vector Control on Wednesday evenings, searching for areas to treat. This process includes treating ditches and small bodies of water with microbial briquettes. These briquettes slowly control the mosquito larvae before pupation due to the sustained release nature of the briquettes. They are safe for all other wildlife and humans, affecting only the mosquito larvae. Once the briquettes have been placed, they cover an area of up to 100 square feet, and keep the mosquitoes away for up to 3 weeks.
According to Coghlan, the treatment process started in March, earlier than last year, to get a jump on the mosquito population and to hopefully keep Brown County from getting any cases of West Nile Virus this year. Last year, with preventative treatment, only one human case of West Nile Virus was reported in Brown County. The man who contracted it lived out in the county and is doing well now after treatment last year, said Coghlan.
“We are going to keep putting out mosquito bricks,” said Coghlan. “Not many people use this type of treatment, but if it works for Brownwood, we are going to keep doing it.”
Coghlan explained that mosquitoes lay their eggs even during drought times, that once water reaches the eggs, they hatch and the most effective way and safest methods to treat and prevent mosquito infestations is to exterminate them before they take to flight.
With recent rains, the much needed moisture for mosquito development is now available in standing puddles and other areas of stagnant water. Coghlan encourages the public to report any areas that need to be treated by calling 325-646-0554. He stated that once the briquettes are placed in an area of possible infestation, they begin to work on the second day and it only takes about a week to kill all larvae that are present. For small areas, such as bird baths and buckets of standing water, simply dumping out the water ends the mosquito’s development, according to Coghlan.
Coghlan also stated that the public needs to be aware that dumping of animal carcasses creates another breeding ground. He stated that there are many animals, such as large dogs’ carcasses, being dumped in ditches or under bridges in areas out in the county. He urged people to take these remains to the landfill where they can be properly disposed of.
To help control the mosquito population, citizens can do several things, including:
- Remove trash, bottles and debris holding water
- Clean clogged gutters
- Flush bird baths and fountains weekly
- Drain flower pots and other garden containers
- Drain water from children’s wading pools and toys
- Fix leaky faucets where water stands
- Remove old tires that hold water
- Fill holes and depressions in yards
- Clean debris out of drainage easements
- Eliminate standing water on flat roofs
- Adjust tarps over woodpiles, grills and boats so water doesn’t stand in the tarp
- Keep vegetation trimmed low
There are many ways residents and families can protect themselves from mosquitoes. To reduce the risk of getting bitten remember the four Ds:
- Dusk to Dawn – This is the time when mosquitoes, likely to carry infection, are most active. Stay indoors from dusk to dawn whenever possible.
- Drain- Standing water in your yard and neighborhood, old tires, flowerpots, clogged drain gutters, bird baths and small pools can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
- Dress- In light colored long sleeves and pants when you are outside, especially in mosquito infested areas.
- Deet- If you are going outside when mosquitoes are most active, make sure you apply insect repellent that contains DEET –Read and follow label instructions, spray both exposed skin and clothing with repellent when outdoors.
Coghlan stated that areas such as Dallas, where multiple deaths from West Nile Virus have been reported, are testing mosquitoes to determine if they have a population that is infected to determine where the most effective treatment can be done. Brownwood, he explained, does not have the funding for this testing which can be quite expensive.
“We don’t do testing of mosquitoes, we treat them all like they have West Nile Virus,” said Coghlan. “What we are doing is good enough for our population. Our main goal is not to damage the environment or hurt any people or animals; the only thing we want to kill are the mosquitoes.”
Pictured above and below are areas recently treated, examples of mosquito larvae habitats.
