Early Friday morning the Mosquito Control Commission will be in the community spraying and surveilling areas throughout Camden County. The summer weather has created an ideal environment for mosquitoes to breed.
With rain in the forecast, Commissioner Jeff Nash, liaison to the Camden County Mosquito Commission, talked about being cognizant of standing water.
“Remember, after any rainfall homeowners need to check their yard and remove any standing water to help eliminate the threat of mosquitos,” Nash said. “Mosquitos need standing water to breed, so you can help keep them off your property by removing water from places like flowerpots and containers. This helps us reduce the pest population in your neighborhood, and it assists the efforts of the Camden County Mosquito Control Commission.”
The Camden County Mosquito Commission will be conducting ULV “spraying” operations on Friday, July 28 between the hours of 2am-6am in the following locations:
Atco
Oneill Dr
Raritan Ave
Hunt Blvd
Pederson Blvd
Tremont Ave
Maple Ave
Fernwood Ave
Sicklerville
Eden Ct
Sicklerville Rd
Eisenhower Ln
Eden Hollow Ln
Eastmont Ln
Highmeadows Dr
Meadowood Ln
Meadowrue Ln
Barclay Ln
Tamerlane
Juniper Ln
Jackson Ln
Chews Landing Rd
Indian Hill Ln
Ivy Ln
Ivy Hill Ln
Pondview Ln
Parkton Pl
Kall Rd
Harvest Ln
Old Orchard Dr
Pondview Ct
Cherry Grove Ln
Blossom Trail
Park Side Dr
Manor Hall Pl
Melwood
Memphis Ct
Marseille Pl
Pittman Pl
Promise Ln
Pershing Ln
Penfield Ln
Price Ln
Pinewood Ln
Colts Neck Dr
Saddle Ln
Wildcat Branch Rd
Coachlight Dr
Turnabout Ln
Twisting Ln
Star Ct
Frosty Hollow Ct
Patricks Mill Ct
Berlin
Dylans Dr
Central Ave
1st Ave
Ryans Run
Russell Ave
Oak Leaf Rd
Grove St
Steelton Rd
Linda Ln
Joseph Dr
Breckenridge Dr
Willard Way
Whiting St
Pump Branch Rd
Summer Dr
Rawlins St
Hack St
Pendelton Dr
“The commission works with the Public Health Environmental Laboratories in Trenton to verify the presence of West Nile Virus and other communicable diseases in their samples,” Nash said. “If a pool tests positive, the Mosquito Commission returns to spray the area. The sprayings take place when the mosquitoes are most active.”
The mosquito spray is not harmful to humans or pets, but you should avoid direct contact if you have respiratory concerns or are sensitive to irritants.
Residents should check their property for any object that holds water for more than a few days. All pre-adult mosquito stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae) must be in stagnant water in order to develop into adult mosquitoes.
- Swimming pools are a common problem. All pools must be checked and maintained to keep them mosquito-free. Swimming pools can breed mosquitoes within days after you stop adding chlorine or other disinfectant. Pool covers can catch rainwater and become a mosquito development site. Add a little chlorine to kill mosquitoes.
- Maintain screens to prevent adult mosquitoes from entering your home or business.
- Personal protection is strongly urged if you are outside when mosquitoes may be active—generally dawn and dusk. Insect repellants containing between 10-35% DEET are very effective, however, be sure to follow the label directions and take extra precautions with children and infants.
The Camden County Mosquito Commission suggests checking around your yard for mosquito breeding containers. The following is a checklist of tips to help eliminate mosquito breeding:
- Dispose of unnecessary containers that hold water. Containers you wish to save turn upside down or put holes in the bottom so all water drains out.
- Lift up flowerpots and dump the water from the dish underneath every week.
- Stock fish or add mosquito larvicide to ornamental ponds.
- Change water in bird baths, fountains, and animal troughs weekly.
- Screen vents to septic and other water tanks.
- Store large boats so they drain and small boats upside down. If covered, keep the tarp tight so water does not pool on top of the tarp.
- Do not dump leaves or grass clippings into a catch basin or streams.
- Do not allow water to collect on sagging tarps or awnings.
- Do not allow trashcan lids to fill with water.
- Check downspouts that are able to hold enough water to allow mosquito larvae to mature.
For more information, or to report a problem, contact the Camden County Mosquito Commission at (856) 566-2945 or skeeters@camdencounty.com.