Nuisance mosquitoes - AFA remains low

MEDIA RELEASE:

WINNIPEG June 8, 2006 - With respect to mosquito control, results of the extensive larviciding program continue to be positive. Weather conditions have been conducive for the return of normal levels of soil saturation in and around Winnipeg. Therefore, with the recent thunderstorms, much of the rainfall can be absorbed by the ground not adding to the inventory of standing water sites. This has reduced the number of standing water bodies in and around Winnipeg which has allowed our larviciding crews to treat more often and has helped in fewer nuisance mosquitoes being present at this time.

Since June 5th the City has been monitoring the 24 New Jersey Light Traps for nuisance mosquitoes daily, Monday through Friday. The Insect Control Branch is anticipating a small emergence of nuisance mosquitoes over the next week. It is important to note that, nuisance mosquito trap counts are only one of the factors which make up the City of Winnipeg’s Adulticiding Factor Analysis (AFA) Level. The AFA Level consists of a range of factors that are considered in determining the appropriate control measure to be implemented for nuisance mosquitoes. Information on nuisance mosquito trap counts, as well as other AFA factors are available at Winnipeg.ca/bugline

The City is encouraging property owners to also help “Fight the Bite” by taking one of the following steps to eliminate standing water on their properties:

Dump It! – containers, kids ' toys, pools
Drain It! – eavestroughs, plant saucers
Cover It! - rain barrels
Fill It! - low-lying areas
Treat It! – with biological larvicides, available at home and garden centres

Interested individuals may acquire more information by contacting the City’s Bugline at 311 Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by visiting the City’s Insect Control Web site at Winnipeg.ca/bugline