Mosquito spraying starts in July

Sidney Parks Department will begin spraying for mosquitos July 16.

It is the best time for eliminating mosquitos that could carry West Nile Virus, Tom Von Seggern, parks director, said.

"We could start now but then I'd need a bigger budget," Von Seggern said. "And we'd be fighting some nuisance mosquitos perhaps, but we wouldn't be protecting against West Nile Virus because that mosquito isn't prevalent until mid-July."

While West Nile Virus is the most common disease spread by mosquitoes in Nebraska, the spraying combats other afflictions.

"Canine heartworm is passed by mosquitos," Von Seggern said.

Anti-Mosquito efforts began in May with the dispersal of larvicide.

Spraying will take place from 7:30 to roughly 11:30 p.m.

"They're aggressive biters at night. That's why we start at dusk," Von Seggern said. "It takes us about three hours to do the whole town."

The ultra low-volume sprayer used releases 1.5 ounces of pesticide over the space of about 300 feet as a fine mist.

"It's only in the air for a few minutes before it settles out," Von Seggern said. "We can't spray when the wind is over 10 miles per hour, but from 0 to 10 miles per hour research has found that mist will travel about the length of a football field."

The parks department sprays streets on an alternating schedule.

"We do every other street," Von Seggern said. "We might do Ash and Cedar one week, and the next week we'll do Birch and Dodge."

The pesticide used, called Anvil 2+2, contains sumithrin, a manmade version of a natural pesticide found in chrysanthemums.

"There's something toxic in that to flying mosquitos, so they developed that as a very safe product around humans," Von Seggern said. "It's not corrosive. It doesn't damage paint on a car or anything. In sunlight it breaks down really fast."

There are ways the community can combat mosquito propagation, as well.

"We ask that you dump any containers that might hold water," Von Seggern said. "If you have a swimming pool in the backyard and you've ignored it for three weeks you're probably breeding mosquitos there."

Von Seggern also advises people to avoid going out at dawn and dusk, when the most aggressive mosquitos are active, and wearing the mosquito repellant DEET.