Winnipeg begins mosquito control program
Posted May 5, 2022 2:44 pm.
Last Updated May 6, 2022 10:11 am.
Winnipeg’s mosquito control program has begun.
The City will be targetting specific areas with an environmentally-friendly mosquito larviciding program.
“Above normal winter precipitation has resulted in standing water in ditches and low-lying areas in fields and forests. As the spring mosquitoes have begun to hatch in the standing water, an extensive larviciding program is anticipated,” said David Wade, Superintendent of Insect Control in a statement.
“We’re about 2 weeks behind a typical start,” added Wade. “It balances out, we’re on good timing to start treating them.”
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Entomologist Taz Stuart doesn’t anticipate a bad mosquito season despite the precipitation we’ve seen, on account of the dry season before. He urges people to dump or drain their standing water – and advises Manitoban’s monitor for larvae.
“Until we get some nice hot weather and evening temperatures above 12 degrees, you’ll see mosquitoes in multiple weeks from now, not any time soon,” said Stuart.
“There are products for home owners, BTI dunks, vectovax, only specific for biting larvae. If you want to buy a product and you know there are larvae. You put the BTI in the water and kill them in your own backyard.”
Larviciding is one of the most effective methods of removing mosquitoes, as it targets mosquito larvae in the aquatic stage before they emerge as adult mosquitoes.
The city will be using helicopters flying at low altitudes to disperse the larvicide, in accordance with Transport Canada’s Civil Aviation Division.
Just before the larviciding begins at public areas including athletic parks, large parks and golf courses, public access will be restricted for 20 minutes before and during the treatment. Signs will also be in place for 24 hours prior to an area being sprayed.
