Upper Moreland Mosquito Spraying Set for Monday

It might be a good idea to stay indoors Monday night.

The Montgomery County Health Department is set to carry out its fourth mosquito spraying in a portion of Upper Moreland Township Monday from about 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

The county will be spraying to control the adult mosquito population in selected areas of the township where sampling by the Health Department and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has shown mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus. 

Residents within the spray area–which includes Moreland and Davisville roads, Overlook Avenue and New Street–should consider remaining indoors, closing windows, and turning off ventilation systems that draw-in outside air for the duration of the spray plus 30 minutes after, according to the Montgomery County Health Department. 

In the event of inclement weather, the alternate spray date will be Sept. 23.

All areas within the highlighted section of the attached map will be subject to spraying. Workers will be using Biomist 3+15 ULV at a rate of 1.5 fluid ounces per acre applied with a truck mounted Ultra Low Volume sprayer. All spraying will be performed by the Montgomery County Health Department. 

The health department will work with appropriate agencies to identify, eliminate, or treat with larvacide areas where mosquitoes are breeding. Residents may contact the department at 610-278-5117 if they are concerned about an area of standing water that may be a breeding area. The adult mosquito control program will only be used in limited situations to reduce large numbers of adult mosquitoes.

For further information about the products being used, visit the EPA Web site.

There are things that everyone can do around the home to help eliminate mosquito-breeding areas, including:

• Identify and eliminate all sources of standing water that collect on your property. Mosquitoes will breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days.
• Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or similar water holding containers that have collected on your property. Do not overlook containers that have become overgrown by aquatic vegetation.
• Pay special attention to discarded tires that may have collected water on your property. They can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left out of doors. Drainage holes that are located on the container sides collect enough water for mosquitoes to breed in.
• Have clogged roof gutters cleaned on an annual basis, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to block drains.
• Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. A wading pool becomes a place for mosquitoes to breed if it is not used on a regular basis.
• Turn over wheelbarrows and do not allow water to stagnate in birdbaths.
• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens are fashionable but become major mosquito breeding grounds if they are allowed to stagnate.
• Keep swimming pools clean and chlorinated. A swimming pool that is left untended becomes a source of mosquito breeding. Be aware that mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on swimming pool covers.