October 30, 2007

• The 2007 mosquito season is not over yet. Warmer than normal temperatures coupled with the much needed rain last week have guaranteed a late mosquito season this year.
• Overall mosquito activity remains a 2 with the potential to drastically increase over the next week.
• Please note even with all of the aggressive treatment taking place it is still possible we could see a late season increase in adult mosquitoes.

• The city received an average of 3.65 inches of rain. The Portsmouth landfill had the most with 4.65 inches of rain. The rain coupled with above normal temperatures triggered some significant mosquito breeding in many areas late last week. Many areas of standing water checked on Friday indicated active mosquito breeding.
• The primary surveillance tool this time of year is a mosquito dipper. The mosquito dipper is a white plastic cup mounted on a stick that we use to sample standing water throughout the city. No trapping is being conducted at this time due to the poor weather conditions for trapping mosquitoes.

• The prolonged dry conditions this summer have helped many areas to dry up already. Current control efforts are focused on treating any remaining standing water in the city.
• No adulticide truck fogging is scheduled at this time; however, we are prepared to spray if necessary.

• An aerial contractor is scheduled to make a larviciding application on approximately 750 acres on Craney Island later today and tomorrow. This application should help to drastically minimize the salt marsh mosquitoes before they become adults.
• Key mosquito breeding areas on the Navy fuel terminal were treated earlier this month and should still be providing effective control.