 |
Mosquitoes
have always been a nuisance insect, however with the recent West Nile
Virus concerns, there is a heightened concern to eliminate mosquito
populations. We have provided here information about mosquitoes
in general, but most specifically about West Nile Virus
mosquitoes. 
Q: Do all mosquitoes carry West Nile Virus?
A: No, there are 53 known mosquito
populations in the state of Wisconsin. Only one of those is the
main carrier of the West Nile Virus (WNV), the Cultex mosquito.
Q: What can you do to help fight mosquitoes at
your home?
A: Cultex mosquitoes only lay their eggs in
shallow stagnant water. They typically fly only 1/4 mile from
where the hatch. Therefore, eliminating shallow, stagnant water
will eliminate the breeding grounds for the Cultex mosquito; this can
be done in many ways:
 | Empty standing water in buckets, plastic covers,
toys or other items mosquitoes may live and breed in. |
| Dispose of old tires or store
indoors.
Note: One tire can produce up to 500 mosquitoes! |
| Check for water in plastic tarps over pools and
boats. |
| Fill in drain puddles, ruts in your yard, hollow
tree stumps, etc. |
| Water in swimming pools should be circulating if
possible. |
| Keep your rain gutters unclogged. |
| Keep ditches and culverts free of weeds and
trash. |
| Empty and change water in birdbaths, potted plant
trays, and wading pools at least once a week. |
| Make sure window and door screens are bug tight. |
| Replace outdoor lights with yellow "bug
lights" |
Q: How is the City of River Falls avoiding the
breeding of mosquitoes?
A: Mosquitoes do not breed in deep ponds.
They breed in shallow areas of water. The current standards of
the City of River Falls call for storm water ponds to be at least four
feet deep. These ponds attempt to mitigate the effects of
development, such as erosion problems, increased water pollution,
destruction of stream habitat, and decreasing groundwater recharge.
The dry ponds and infiltration ponds within the City
are designed to drain in 48 hours. When the ponds take more than
2 hours to drain, they will be scheduled for maintenance to restore the
design infiltration rate of 48 hours. Typically, mosquito larvae
require four days (96 hours) to fully develop.
The City hopes these ponds will provide a very
natural look and feel to City neighborhoods. Native, no-mow
grasses are used to enhance the natural feel as well as to provide
habitat for natural predators of mosquitoes, such as birds, bats,
dragonflies, frogs and other amphibians.
Q: How can you personally reduce your risk to
WNV?
A: It is impossible to eliminate all habitats for
mosquitoes, however, there are some easy measures you can take to protect
yourself:
| Limit your time outdoors at dawn and dusk during
the mosquito season (June-September) |
| Wear shoes, socks, long-sleeve shirts and long
pants when outdoors. |
| Apply insect repellents with DEET to exposed skin
when outdoors. |
| Spray clothes with insect repellents to deter
mosquitoes from biting through them. |
Q: What about chemical treatments?
A: The City has looked into this option
for shallow ponds. The WI Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
states that it is illegal for anyone to place a pesticide in
non-containerized standing water without a permit. Due to
potential environmental  impacts
of chemical treatments, permits require in-depth monitoring and
supporting evidence for approval. In fact, there is only one
approved mosquito control district in the region and that is in La
Crosse, due to the vast flood plains of the Mississippi River, and the
many wetlands and marshes present there. (For a copy of the DNR
info sheet, please stop by City Hall)
Q: Can you stock the ponds with fish?
A: In this climate in order for fish to
survive the winter freeze, the ponds must be 8-10 feet deep.
Since mosquitoes lay their eggs in shallow water, ponds where fish can
survive should have minimal mosquito problems anyway.
|
|
|
References
and other available information:
Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources
Center
for Disease Control (CDC)
WI
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
US
Environmental Protection Agency
National
Pesticide Information Center
Department
of Health and Family Services
WI
West Nile Virus Hotline:
1-800-433-1610
|
|
