The Village contracts with Clarke Mosquito Control to treat standing waters and catch basins for Culex Pipien mosquitoes, which can carry West Nile Virus. On occasion, the Village will also authorize a truck spraying. Truck spraying is generally not as effective as larviciding which is why the Village chooses to keep truck spraying to a minimum.
The Village of Lombard’s mosquito abatement program with Clarke Mosquito Control includes the standard treatment all of standing waters with larvicide, but the Village also goes beyond many other municipalities by also treating backyard (i.e. private) catch basins. It is important to note that there are many species of mosquitoes that impact the Lombard area. Our larvicide program is focused on targeting Culex Pipiens mosquitoes, which are larger in size than average mosquitoes, and may carry West Nile Virus as larva. These mosquitoes breed in warm, nutrient-rich standing water over 7 days.
The smaller and more common mosquito is the Aedes Vexans, or “floodwater mosquito”. These insects are the usual culprits of backyard annoyance, but they do not carry West Nile Virus. Their life cycle is different than the Culex, only requiring a 3 day incubation period and small amounts of water, allowing them to breed in damp grass. These mosquitoes increase in number with frequent and heavy rains. In order to control this population the Village would have to spray pesticides every 3 days, at a cost to residents of $9,600 per Village-wide spray. Since spraying is only useful for short-term control and even less so for backyard areas, the Village suggests that residents may opt to purchase a can of yard spray at a hardware store for a weekend’s worth of benefit, such as for a barbeque.
Although the mosquito species that transmit Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses are rare to nonexistent in northern Illinois, health authorities have issued advisories for travel and person-to-person infection. See http://www.dupagehealth.org/ftb for the latest information.
Helpful Bite Prevention Tips
- Call the Clarke "Hotline" at 1-800-942-2555 to report standing/stagnant water.
- Change water in bird baths every other day and eliminate water from flower pots, gutters, toys and pool covers.
- Keep informed by the DuPage County Health Department at http://www.dupagehealth.org/ftb
- Wear repellent after dusk.
- Inform the Village at (630) 620-5740 if you have a private catch basin. The Village will have it added to the list for larviciding briquettes.
- Minimize time spent outdoors at dawn, dusk and in the early evening, when mosquitoes are the most active.
- Wear light colored, long sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.
- Apply DEET-based insect repellents sparingly to exposed skin and clothing. Repellents may irritate eyes/mouths, so avoid applying to the hands of children.
- Make sure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens.
- Remove containers that may hold water to eliminate standing water which serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, i.e., discarded tires, cans, ceramic pots.
- Keep weeds and grass cut short since adult mosquitoes look for shady places to rest during the hot daylight hours.
- Change water in bird baths at least once per week.
- Drain water from pool covers, and keep pools and hot tubs chlorinated and clean.
- Keep gutters clean.
Eco-Friendly Mosquito Larvicide
Starting in 2014, Lombard is now part of the new EarthRight sustainability program offered by Clarke that uses a naturally-derived, EPA-registered larvicide as well as application by technicians on bicycles. See Clarke’s video and website for more information.