WINNIPEG - April 24, 2008 – Today, the City of Winnipeg announced the commencement of its surveillance and larviciding activities for the 2008 nuisance mosquito control season.

This season’s mosquito control program will continue to be based on the more environmentally- friendly Insect Control Strategy adopted by Council in 2005 which:

• Decreases the use of chemicals and increases the use of biologicals for larviciding; and;
• Uses a balanced control approach including larviciding, biocontrols and residual treatments, and when necessary, fogging, to supplement these on-going measures.

Surveillance of smaller water sites in and around Winnipeg began this week. At this time, low larval populations of the spring species are being reported. Ground and aerial-based larviciding activities will commence immediately, weather permitting.

Larviciding targets mosquito larvae in the aquatic stage before they emerge as adults and is the most effective and environmentally-friendly approach to controlling mosquitoes. Biological products will continue to be used in environmentally-sensitive areas such as residential areas, parks, and playgrounds. Similar to last year, we are expecting to utilize biological products for approximately one-third of the total larviciding program which is a significant increase since 2001 when only 2% of the products applied were biological.

Fogging will be initiated only when the requirements of both the City policy, utilizing the AFA (Adulticiding Factor Analysis) Guidelines, and the provincial pesticide use permit are met. If fogging is required, the program will be carried out in the entire city (buffer zones respected), prioritizing first for areas with highest nuisance mosquito populations. For details on the AFA factors, please refer to the Insect Control website at Winnipeg.ca/bugline. A 48 hour public notice will be issued prior to a nuisance fogging program being implemented. Daily public notices will also be issued detailing where fogging will occur that night. Personal notification by telephone or email of mosquito fogging program activities is also available by contacting the Insect Control Branch in writing at 3 Grey Street, R2L 1V2, by email at insectcontrol@winnipeg.ca, by fax at 311 or by registering on-line at Winnipeg.ca/bugline.

Property owners not wanting insecticides applied on or adjacent to their principle residence may register as “Buffer Zone Registrants” for both the cankerworm and/or adult mosquito control. Those who wish to register may contact the Insect Control Branch in writing at 3 Grey Street R2L 1V2, by faxing it to 311 or on our convenient on-line registration at Winnipeg.ca/bugline. A minimum 48-hour turnaround time is required for processing so residents are encouraged to begin registering now for the 2008 season, in the event that cankerworm control or mosquito fogging is required.

The use of Insect Management Areas will continue to be used to assist the public and the media in locating areas which are being treated. All Winnipeg neighbourhoods have been grouped into 51 Insect Management Areas so that as residents become familiar with their Insect Management Area, they will find it much easier to reference when their area is going to be treated. Information on all fogging and cankerworm control activities will be provided by referencing the specific Insect Management Area in which they are being carried out. These maps, including buffer zone registration forms can be found on our website, winnipeg.ca/bugline, as handouts at all City libraries, and in the back of the 2007 MTS White Pages. The maps will also be in the 2008 MTS White Pages which will be arriving in Winnipeg homes in the next few weeks.

Property owners are also encouraged to eliminate standing water on their properties by taking one of the following steps:

• Dump It! – containers
• Drain It! - eavestroughing or unused containers
• Cover It! - rain water collection containers
• Fill It! - low-lying areas
• Treat It! - biological larvicide

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 website at Winnipeg.ca/bugline.