Ken Nawolsky, superintendent of insect control, at the City of Winnipeg’s heliport on Tyne Avenue. (CHRISD.CA FILE)
The City of Winnipeg has begun larviciding for mosquitoes before they can hatch and become a nuisance this summer.
Crews with the insect control branch are treating mosquito larvae in standing water using environmentally-friendly agents.
“The rise in spring temperatures has triggered a hatch of the spring species of mosquitoes in the water. If weather conditions continue to remain normal, a routine spring larviciding program is anticipated,” said Ken Nawolsky, superintendent of Insect Control.
Nawolsky says his team is using ground equipment and four helicopters, as well as monitoring and treating more than 28,000 hectares of water area on an ongoing basis based on weather conditions.
Monitoring for adult nuisance mosquitoes in New Jersey Light Traps will begin April 29, with the first trap counts posted online on May 1.
Should fogging be required at a later stage during the season, the city will use DeltaGard 20EW under adulticiding factor analysis (AFA) guidelines. Those residents wishing to request a 90-metre buffer zone can do so by contacting 311.
Property owners are also encouraged to dump, drain or cover standing water on their properties.
