Winnipeg, MB - Today, the Winnipeg Public Service provided an update on insect control activities.
Mosquito Control Program
The Insect Control Branch continues an aggressive larviciding program and is reminding Winnipeggers to do their part and empty any standing water on their property.
The Insect Control Branch had a successful spring larviciding program. Spring adult nuisance mosquitoes have emerged in very small numbers.
With the recent warm weather and rains over the last 10 days, the summer nuisance mosquito species have hatched in the water. With the forecast of continuing warm temperatures and chances of rain, the first generation of summer adult nuisance mosquitoes will begin to appear in the next 3 to 5 days, weather dependent. A small emergence of summer adult nuisance mosquitoes is expected as surveillance activities indicate larvae development on public and private properties.
The City is strongly encouraging property owners to also help “Fight the Bite” as approximately 50 per cent of standing water sites are located on private property. Homeowners can take one of the following steps to eliminate standing water on their properties:
- Dump It! - containers
- Drain It! - eavestroughing or unused containers
- Cover It! - rain water collection containers
- Fill It! - low-lying areas
- Treat It! - biological larvicide
The Insect Control Branch’s aggressive larviciding program will continue using all resources to check and treat approximately 30,000 hectares of potential larval development sites in Winnipeg and the surrounding 10 kilometre treatment area, to reduce the potential for the emergence of a small adult nuisance mosquito population. The Superintendent of Insect Control will be monitoring conditions on a daily basis, and is ready to implement the range of control measures available as nuisance activity and environmental conditions vary.
The city-wide New Jersey Light Trap count today is 3. Currently, the Adulticiding Factor Analysis (AFA) rating remains at Low. The Insect Control Branch is closely monitoring the AFA conditions daily, and will change the level as the factors that make up the AFA vary.
Citizens may have noticed midges flying around. Midges are non-biting flies that resemble mosquitoes. They are similar in size and general appearance and tend to swarm like mosquitoes. If you are seeing swarms of what appears to be mosquitoes but you are not being bitten, they are likely just midges.
Cankerworm Control Program
2014 will be another year with very few cankerworms throughout most of Winnipeg. Recent monitoring of the adult cankerworm population indicates that most areas of the city will have minimal damage. Some defoliation of trees on localized streets in the North End and St. Boniface may occur due to the cankerworm larvae feeding on the foliage of the large stands of American Elm, Manitoba Maple, Green Ash, and ornamental trees, the preferred hosts for spring and fall cankerworms.
If a cankerworm control program is required, it will be implemented on a limited basis where cankerworms are starting to cause significant levels of defoliation. Current surveillance information indicates that the larvae have just hatched and are beginning to feed on the leaves, causing many small holes known as “shot gun hole” damage. Surveillance crews will continue to monitor all areas of the city. A public notice will be issued 24 hours in advance of any program, providing information on which treed areas of the city will be sprayed the following day. This announcement will also be posted on the Insect Control website.
Homeowners are responsible for cankerworm control on their property
Citizens can spray their own trees with Btk, which is available at most home and garden centres, or they can contract a tree spraying company by referring to the Yellow Pages under tree service or exterminators.
Homeowners are reminded to remove tree bands
Please remember to remove any tree bands as the band will damage the bark of the tree if left on throughout the summer. To control fall cankerworms, please put new sticky bands up in early September.