We are protocol driven. We do not spray indiscriminately or on a regular schedule, only when the health danger rises above a certain level.
We have traps that attract and capture Mosquitoes in defined areas called spray routes. Those traps are checked daily. When the counts are above a certain level then we spray. We cannot spray (DEP & EPA standards) without the levels being above certain levels.
Mosquitoes are water breeders. When we are in very long dry spells the eggs laid do not hatch. Those eggs can lay dormant for up to 5 years just waiting on a water source to hatch and go through the pupa, larvae and adult stages. Once we have puddled or collected pools it takes 7 days for a the "bitters" to become active. The males die within 3 days and it is the females that bite and lay eggs for the next wave. This species are called Floodwater mosquitoes. There are other types and each have a time of day that they are active. The other most common species are called Asian Tiger mosquitoes and are container breeders. They grow in old tires, flower pots, abandoned pools, buckets and any other container the holds water. Their "flight area" is very small usually less that 300 ft from where they hatched. Theeir active period is earlier in the day - morning to mid afternoon. Most people that were attacked prior to the rain period we had were being attacked by mosquitoes hatched on their property or an adjacent property. Because of their "flight area" unless they are adjacent to a "trap" they will not show up in the traps. We depend on customers to call during those times. We dispatch an inspector to the home to try and locate the breeding container or containers and eliminate the source.
We had significant rainfall about 11 days ago and the first hatch occurred and trap counts soared and the trap counts were reduced through spraying within 5 days. The second hatch occurred 2 days ago and we are spraying nightly in those zones that the rates are above the threshold.
I will look at the GPS data and post exactly which zone Pt. Washington is in and when we have sprayed (date and time) and what Mondays trap counts were.
It will be Monday before I can provide you the data.
