Mosquito Treatment

The Town will no longer be fogging due to potential harmful after effects to animals, beneficial insects and humans.

Mosquito Authority will treat the trees, shrubs, and foliage of both groomed and native grasses within and around the areas previously described. These areas are to be treated with adulticide and with larvicide. In addition, they will treat along the foundation, eaves and overhangs of buildings within the area to be treated. Although the target pest is the mosquito and its larvae, the presence of other pests such as wasps, grasshoppers, ants, fleas, flies and ticks may also be affected.

• Larval Control and Source Reduction: A proactive surveillance and treatment program is crucial to mitigate mosquito and disease risks before the mosquitoes hatch and become adults. Mosquito Authority will treat larval habitats located throughout the property including temporary pools, retention ponds, drainage areas and catch basins utilizing an enzyme as a larvicide, found naturally occurring in the environment, that prevents larvae from developing into adult mosquitoes. 
• Adult Mosquito Control: Rather than indiscriminately fogging the neighborhood and environment using vehicle mounted systems that only control the mosquitoes that are present during the application, we manually apply pesticide in areas where mosquitoes hide using hand operated backpack sprayers. Our process reduces the amount of pesticide used and increases pesticide effectiveness by providing residual control for approximately 20 days. To ensure continued control, our technicians will return and do a follow-up evaluation and treatment every 21 days throughout the season.

The Town’s mosquito management program is aimed at reducing populations and lowering the risk of disease through reducing habitat, eliminating larvae, trapping and testing mosquitoes and – if necessary – adult mosquito spraying. Town contractor, Mosquito Authority, uses methods that maximize effectiveness without compromising the safety of residents, pets or the environment.

You can help reduce mosquito populations in the your neighborhoods by eliminating breeding habitat on your property. Please drain standing water anywhere it collects on your property, especially common areas such as:

• Gutters
• Flower pots
• Garbage cans/lids
• Outdoor toys
• Tires
• Fountains/bird baths
• Buckets

To protect yourself from West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, use the following tips to avoid mosquito bites:

• Dress in long sleeves and pants
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing
• Use mosquito repellents containing DEET
• Limit outdoor activity around dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.

The Town of Bennett is currently treating our Parks and Open Spaces with a granular larvacide application and putting a larvacide briquette in any standing water. Public Works also vacuums mosquito habitats that can potentially produce large mosquito populations.

The Town of Bennett does not have the legal right to treat private property, regardless of its proximity to Town land. This includes both residential and business properties. Should you wish to treat your property, some local mosquito treatment companies are the Mosquito Authority, Vector Disease Control International and TruGreen Mosquito Defense.

If you have questions or concerns please contact the Town of Bennett Public Works Department at 303-644-3249.