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Environmental
The Village contracts with Clarke Mosquito Control. The program focuses on the underground drainage structures and open waters where mosquitoes breed, especially the Culex species since they are a vector for West Nile Virus (WNV). Culex mosquitoes are larger than other mosquitoes, and they breed in warm, nutrient-rich standing water over 7 days, as is the case in street inlets and catch basins.
It is recommended that residents with backyard catch basins consider purchase their own treatment briquettes such as Altosid at a local hardware store or online.
The smaller and more common mosquito is the Aedes Vexans, or “floodwater mosquito”. They are the usual culprits of backyard annoyance, but they do not carry WNV. Their life cycle is different than the Culex, only requiring a 3-day incubation period and small amounts of water, allowing them to also 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 $12,300 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.
The mosquito species that transmit Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses are rare to nonexistent in northern Illinois, but health authorities have issued advisories for travel and person-to-person infection.
Helpful Bite Prevention Tips
- Contact Clarke’s hotline at 1-800-942-2555 or www.clarkeportal.com/hotline 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 https://www.dupagehealth.org/243/Personal-Protection-Index
- 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.
- Keep weeds and grass cut short since adult mosquitoes look for shady places to rest during the hot daylight hours.
Eco-Friendly Mosquito Larvicide
Since 2014, Lombard has been part of Clarke’s EarthRight sustainability program 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.