Recent heavy rains in the Winnipeg area have created conditions that have allowed mosquito eggs that have lain dormant for the past three to five years to hatch, with the end result being a steep increase in the number of
these irritating insects.
While the city depends on its four helicopters to spread 75 % of the larvicide treatment throughout the city, strong winds have kept them grounded. This has resulted in a heavy workload for crews on the ground. Many are working 18-hour days to keep the problem under control.
In keeping with the city’s license, fogging will only take place when the average number of mosquitoes caught in traps placed throughout the city is 25, with at least one trap having caught 100.
Landowners are asked to do their part. These insects breed in standing water, so they are asked to either drain these areas or treat them using biological methods. Even small amounts of water, such as a flowerpot or old tire, are enough for mosquitoes to breed in.
This is an area in which every resident of the city can make a difference. The city can let them know how they can help by using the services of a brochure printer to produce pamphlets and other informational items for distribution to the public.
