DNREC to Begin Mosquito Spraying Friday

A helicopter contracted by the DNREC Mosquito Control Section sprays for woodland pool larval mosquitoes in early spring to limit emergence of adult mosquitoes later in the spring / DNREC photo

Mosquito spraying will begin on Friday! Mosquito Control will begin spraying the woodland pools to control aquatic immature mosquitoes and continue into mid-April – weather permitting. Spraying begins in southern Sussex County and will expand into Kent and New Castle Counties over the next several weeks. Targeting the woodland pool larval mosquitoes limits the emergence of biting adult mosquitoes later in the spring. Up to 10,000 acres of wet woodlands near select populated areas can be treated annually, but recent drought conditions have resulted in below-average surface water area in the state’s forested wetlands – and the recent bitterly cold temperatures have delayed mosquito egg hatching.

Additional information from DNREC:

The season’s first documented mosquito larvae was observed at the end of February. The Mosquito Control Section monitors these and other factors during the month of March, which in turn determines when treatments will occur for the state’s woodland pools.

All control treatments will be done via helicopter. Treatments will apply a liquid, bacteria-derived insecticide commonly known as Bti – with the timing of application ideally coinciding with a majority of mosquito eggs hatched and about halfway through their larval, aquatic life stage. As with all insecticides used by the Mosquito Control Section, Bti has been determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to pose no unreasonable risks to human health, wildlife or the environment when applied in accordance with product label instructions as required by federal law.

The spring woodland mosquito larvae spray campaign marks the annual beginning of Delaware’s mosquito control season – which in most years continues until late October.  Starting in April, mosquito control activities will expand to include larval and adult saltmarsh mosquitoes, other freshwater mosquitoes, and urban and suburban container-breeding mosquitoes to manage mosquito populations for improving the state’s quality of life and to protect public health.

Delawareans can learn locations and times for scheduled mosquito spraying activity in the state by calling toll-free 800-338-8181. Mosquito spraying announcements can also be received by email, text or voicemail by subscribing to the Mosquito Control’s Spray Zone Notification System found on the de.gov/mosquitospray webpage.

To request local mosquito control service, call one of the following Mosquito Control Section field offices:

• Glasgow Office, 302-836-2555, serving New Castle County and the northern half of Kent County, including Dover.
• Milford Office, 302-422-1512, serving the southern half of Kent County south of Dover and all of Sussex County.

For more information on DNREC’s mosquito control efforts in Delaware, visit the de.gov/mosquito webpage.