Spraying schedule revised (6/10/04)

The Portland Street Department soon will begin spraying for mosquitoes in the city.

Street and park department superintendent Jeff Harker said a different brand of spray will be used, the spraying times have changed and the way the material will be sprayed will change from last summer. Spraying will begin within the next two weeks.

The department has switched to Anvil, which is a non-corrosive, synthetic pyrethoide pesticide. The active ingredient is Sumithrin, and it has a low odor and kills adult mosquitoes upon impact. Last year, Titan, also a man-made pyrethoide pesticide was used. The active ingredient in Titan is Permethrin.

Harker said the main difference between the two products is the old spray had to be sprayed 100 feet away from all waterways, because it is extremely toxic to fish and aquatic vertebras. With Anvil, the spray truck can drive along the riverbanks and waterways and spray. However, Anvil will not kill mosquito larva.

Jay County environmentalist/administrator Dave Houck has used Anvil and highly recommended it, said Harker.

“I thought (Anvil) suited us a lot better,” Harker said.

All mosquito sprays are very expensive, said Harker. One gallon of Anvil will treat 42 to 105 acres of ground. A 55-gallon-drum costs $5,500. Harker said the department used more than 100 gallons of Titan last summer. Three to five ounces were sprayed per acre. The money used for the mosquito spraying materials and equipment is paid for through the street department’s budget, which comes from tax dollars.

In order for the department to use Anvil, whoever sprays it must be in contact with someone who is licensed to use it. Harker said he and assistant superintendent Randy Mann will be taking the state category eight written test this month to get a license. The test will cover types of mosquitoes, the diseases they spread and how they spread them. Next month they will be taking the core test, which covers the actual spraying for the mosquitoes.

Spraying will be done every Thursday at dusk. Harker said in the seminars and classes he has attended on mosquito spraying, most said when the sun was down was the best time because that’s when mosquitoes typically are out. Also, days when the humidity is high, are good days to kill mosquitoes.

Last year, the spraying was done at 5 a.m. Mosquitoes cannot be sprayed during the day because the material quickly degrades in sunlight. The chemical will not work if it is raining or windy.

“A lot of people here told me last year that they were bit by mosquitoes at night,” Harker said. “I wasn’t sure if (Titan) was working.”

To spray the entire city takes about six to eight hours, said Harker. The spray truck has to drive between 10 and 15 mph in order for the chemical to be effective.

“We want (the spray) to be as effective as possible,” he said.

The Anvil mist will be released through an “ultra low volume unit” at 15 to 25 droplets per spray. The mist then travels through the air, hits a majority of the adult mosquitoes and kills them instantly. The remaining mosquitoes fall to the ground and die later. The mist dissipates within a few hours and is environmentally safe.

Harker said Anvil is safe to use, but he recommends “parents not have their kids chase the fog truck to get sprayed.”

Each spraying will be different. One week, the spraying might start in an alley on the east side of the city. The next week, it could begin on a street on the city’s west side. Harker said changing the locations of the beginning of the spraying sessions could be very effective. The parks will not be sprayed until everyone has left. The baseball diamonds will be sprayed in the morning.

The city’s wastewater treatment plant is also pitching in to help control the mosquito population.

Harker said the plant has purchased solid briquettes, which contain larvicide. They are for the catch basins, which collect water along the streets. Some of the basins can become clogged, and the water gets stagnant, which is a good breeding ground for mosquitoes. The larvicide forms a thin film on the top of the water, which suffocates the mosquitoes.

Anyone who sees a clogged catch basin should contact Harker at (260) 726-4077 or wastewater treatment plant supervisor Bob Brelsford at (260) 726-7969. Harker is also happy to answer any questions.

Portland residents can also aid in controlling the mosquito population by eliminating areas for larva breeding. Harker said if anyone sees water standing on the ground or in a hole in a tree, the area should be filled with dirt or other materials. Any water in old tires or cans should be dumped out. Bird baths need to be emptied every three to five days. Also, gutters should be cleaned regularly.

If anyone finds a large pool of stagnant water, the street department should be contacted. The department can come and put larvicide in the water.

“We believe in communication and want everyone to know what’s going on,” Harker said.[[In-content Ad]]