The City of Winnipeg came out swinging Thursday morning, announcing the start of its mosquito fight for the 2010 season.
City Entomologist Taz Stuart briefed media at the heliport in Transcona, where the city will launch four larviciding helicopters to fight the mosquito population this season. Low larval populations are currently being reported, the city’s Insect Control Branch said. Ground and aerial-based larviciding activities are occurring daily, weather permitting.
The city will continue with the same environmentally-friendly approach its been using since 2005, which includes decreasing the use of chemicals and increases the use of biologicals for larviciding.
Fogging will only commence when requirements have been met, excluding in buffer zones as requested by residents. A 48-hour public notice will be issued prior to a nuisance fogging program being implemented. To request a buffer zone this year, phone 311, e-mail 311@winnipeg.ca, or register online at at Winnipeg.ca/bugline.
On the cankerworm front, the city says the North End, Transcona, Fort Garry and River Heights/Tuxedo are likely to start experiencing defoliation soon. The deciduous trees in Winnipeg are already in leaf and the cankerworms are hatching.
It’s too late to carry out further banding of trees, but the city is reminding residents to remove the current bands after the May long weekend and put new sticky bands up in early September to control the fall cankerworms.
