The City of Amarillo began spraying and treating public standing water today in an effort to monitor mosquitoes in the area. The recent rains create prime breeding areas for mosquitoes, which can thrive in as little as half an inch of water. However, according to their press release, the treatment cannot manage mosquitoes for long periods of time. In the press release statement, it says:
â??The only way to stop mosquitoes is to eliminate standing water and tip and toss the water out of anything that can hold water like swimming pools, tires, buckets, jars, bird baths, and rain gutters.â??
This advice comes right alongside a release from the National Pest Management Association, who also urges residents to take the necessary precautions against common summer pests to prevent the spreading of diseases through mosquitoes and ticks. Due to the recent rainfall, NPMA experts are predicting an increase in mosquito and tick populations across the country, which also means a heightened chance of diseases like West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease spreading.
â??There were 2300 cases last year of West Nile there were reported and more than 100 fatalities, so it really is something people need to understand. Mosquito-borne illnesses are very real,â?? said Missy Henriksen, VP of public affairs for NPMA.
Experts in the area say that right now, with the amount of rain that the Panhandle has seen in the past few days after the long drought, homeowners must make the effort to eliminate all breeding sites around their home.
â??Rain gutters are probably the most overlooked,â?? said Brad Turner, president of Lady Bug Termite & Pest Services. â??Itâ??s the places that hold any kind of water that you want to eliminate. Also, keep all the weeds and grass mowed around your house very close. During the heat of the day, the mosquitoes want to hide in the cool shaded area.â??
Tips from the City of Amarillo are:
-Tip and Toss the water from all containers around your property
-Consumer Control, because the community controls cannot reduce mosquito populations to zero, people need to protect themselves as well.
-Vegetation Management, because adult mosquitoes prefer to rest on weeds and other vegetation. Homeowners can reduce the number of areas where adult mosquitoes can find shelter by cutting down weeds adjacent to house foundation.
Other tips can found on the National Pest Management Association website.