Mosquito spraying to begin this weekend

The city of Sidney Parks Department will conduct initial mosquito spraying on Sunday evening July 28th. Weather permitting, spraying will continue each Sunday evening from approximately 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., into early September, or as needed based on weather and mosquito populations.

The city is spraying to kill adult mosquitos that may be carrying the West Nile Virus (WNV). WNV poses a serious public health concern in our community, since it can cause serious illness in people. The culex tarsalis mosquito, which carries WNV, is more common in the the late summer.

Spraying does not kill all of the mosquitos. Spraying is just one of several ways the city is trying to protect people from WNV. The city has eliminated many standing water problems and treated other areas with larvacide to kill mosquitoes before they become adults. Individual protection at the citizen level is the most efficient and effective way to fight mosquitos.

The city operates calibrated, safe equipment that converts liquid pesticide into a very fine mist. The technical name for this is ultra low volume (ULV) spraying. Only 1.5 ounces of the pesticide product is needed to treat an area of land about the size of a football field. Under the most favorable conditions, mosquitos will be controlled up to 300 feet downwind. The equipment is noisy when it operates.

The pesticide ANVIL 2+2 is a premixed, ready to use product that contains two active ingredients: sumithrin (2 percent) and piperonyl butoxide (2 percent). Sumithrin is a man-made version of a natural pesticide found in chrysanthemum flowers. It is a pyrethroid pesticide and is available for sale in stores in products used to control ticks, fleas and ants. Piperonyl butoxide helps sumithrin work better against mosquitos. ANVIL 2+2 is registered with the U.S. EPA and is effective against mosquitos that carry WNV.

ANVIL 2+2 is one of the least toxic pesticides to human available. Citizens who do not wish to have their property sprayed need to contact the city offices by 3:00 p.m. on Fridays. For documentation purposes, citizens will need to provide their name, address and telephone number. The city of Sidney will not spray within one block of any residence that is placed on the list. However, reducing mosquito populations will reduce the number of people that get sick or die from WNV. ANVIL 2+2 breaks down rapidly in sunlight and water and poses very minimal environmental concerns. The ingredients in ANVIL 2+2 are not corrosive and will not damage paint.

Tips to fight mosquitos from Sidney Parks Superintendent Tom Von Seggern

• Avoid going outside during dawn and dusk.

If you do go out, wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants.

• Use a mosquito repellant that contains DEET and use it according to the label (not on infants under 2 months of age).

• Get rid of any standing water around your home.