The Buzz is a weekly summary
disseminate important information about mosquitoes and mosquito
control in the City of Portsmouth.
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Now is the perfect time to stock up on insect repellant.
Mosquitoes are out and active, take steps to protect
yourself and use insect repellants. |
| Mosquito Activity (Scale from 0 to 5) |
- City wide activity remains a 2 this week due to the initial
presence of West Nile Virus detected in mosquito samples.
- Traps counts were slightly lower this week, most likely due the
adult spraying this week and last week.
- We averaged .9 inches of rain last week. We also received over
an inch of rain earlier this week.
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| Surveillance and Control |
- West Nile Virus activity has increased in Virginia, Northern
Virginia and Richmond area have all detected multiple mosquito
samples with West Nile Virus.
- 7 CDC style light traps were set this week, a total of 555
mosquitoes were caught. The average number of mosquitoes per trap
was 79. This was down slightly this week. 5 OFP style traps were set
this week, a total of 28 tiger mosquitoes were caught. The average
number of tiger mosquitoes per trap was 16. This about the same as
last week. Counts will go up next week because of the rain showers.
- 4 gravid traps were set this week, a total of 19 mosquitoes were
caught. The average number of mosquitoes per trap was 5. Gravid trap
counts were again lower this week.
- Control activities this week were directed to treating storm
drain catch basins in down town. The crew treated 553 storm drain
catch basins this week. Treating storm drain catch basin efforts
will continue next week.
- We treated 7,090 acres for adult mosquitoes this week.
- Information on spray activities is posted on the Mosquito Spray
Hotline (393-8666 press 1 when prompted). Citizens can call and
listen to a recorded message to find out what areas are scheduled
for mosquito spraying.
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| Service Requests |
- We received 3 service requests this week.
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| Temporary Reduction in Mosquito
Services |
- Due to some critical staff vacancies we will be forced to
temporarily reduce mosquito control operations. Services will be
restored once staffing levels return to normal. Most notably we will
be forced to drastically reduce the number of traps each week and
maps will not be included in “The Buzz”.
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