Today the city of Longmont officially announced that it will begin spraying for mosquitos in Longmont neighborhoods this week.
Last week, West Nile Virus was identified in a mosquito in Greeley. Longmont began testing mosquitos in local traps where a high concentration of Culex mosquitos were found.
"Culux mosquitos are the primary carriers of West Nile Virus, which they transfer to humans and other animals through bites," states a news release from the city of Longmont.
“This is an uncommon and extraordinary year for mosquitoes, due to the wet weather and high heat,” explained Dan Wolford, Land Program Administrator and head of the city’s West Nile Virus prevention program. “Every trap site exceeded the City’s designated threshold of 150 adult mosquitoes, and the number of Culex mosquitoes tripled from a previous week of 23.6 % of all mosquitoes trapped to 72.7%. Last week’s total trap count was 15,093 mosquitoes, this week the numbers are up to 17,350.”
At Union Reservoir 3,600 mosquitos were found in the trap and 96.3% were Culex mosquitos. Mill Village, just south of the UCHealth hospital and Hwy. 119, banked 4,000 mosquitos of which 61.4% were Culex mosquitos. St. Vrain Greenway and Rough and Ready Park trapped less than 2,000 mosquitos each, however, the concentration of the Culex mosquitos was 87% and 75.3% respectively, according to the news release.
Spraying, conducted by Vector Disease Control International, or VDCI, will begin on Thursday night as long as the weather permits, according to the release.
The areas to be sprayed this week include:
Jim Hamm (LM-03)
- Garden Acres Park
- The Shores
- Sandstone Ranch
- Union Reservoir
- Great Western/Mill Village
- St. Vrain Greenway
- Creekside
- Renaissance
- Lanyon Park/Stoney Ridge
- Izaak Walton Park
- Rough & Ready South
VDCI uses an integrated pest management program to attack mosquitos in the larval state, before they become airborne, the news release states. Although most mosquitos are targeted before they become adults, some fogging may be necessary when West Nile mosquito populations increase, according to the release.
Longmont residents can add their information to a database kepty by VDCI to request notification or shutoffs near their property. To notify you, VDCI can call before spraying near the property. VDCI can also shut off the spray machine while driving past the property. Those who would like to learn more or make such requests can call 877-276-4306 or visit vdci.net/colorado.
