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Mosquito Control
Stop the Bite - What can you do to keep the mosquito population down around your home and/or property?
Remove their habitats
- Eliminate standing water on land or in any container.
- Change water at least weekly in bird baths, wading pools, etc.
- Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating.
Avoid Getting Bitten
- Keep mosquitoes away from exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, and socks.
- Tuck shirts into pant and pants into socks to cover gaps.
- Stay indoors when possible.
- Use mosquito repellents and always follow directions.
- Replace outdoor lights with yellow "bug" lights which tend to attract fewer mosquitoes.
What the City of Brenham does to reduce mosquito populations
When the weather is warm enough for mosquitoes to become active and breeding grounds for mosquitoes are larger than normal due to rainfall, the City of Brenham assists with the control of mosquitoes in three (3) ways. The first attack method the City uses is fog spraying technique using a pesticide labeled (Kontrol 4-4). This pesticide is applied by using an ultra low volume sprayer attached to a vehicle in which fog is produced that attacks adult mosquitoes. This control method usually starts around April and last until September when temperatures rise, rainfall is prominent and wind conditions are right. On average 3 times weekly this procedure is conducted beginning 1 hour before dark and continuing 2 hours after dark. During one evening, 20-25 miles of city streets can be covered with this process. This is the ideal time to spray because beneficial insects, like bees, are safely back at their hives/nests and adult (biting) mosquitoes are most active and susceptible to the spray.
The second attack method the city provides is spot spraying storm drains during the day using Kontrol 4-4. By attacking storm drains this allows an approach other than aerially that targets adult mosquitoes during the daytime hiding in dark moist areas such as these large storm drains. An ATV is usually used with a wand sprayer that will fog mosquitoes out of these areas.
The third attack method the City of Brenham uses is applying Zoecon Altosid Briquettes to standing water attacking mosquito larvae before maturing into adults. These briquettes are applied to standing water in the right of way or drainage ways that cannot be drained or is hard to get too. Areas, where these are applied consists of larger bodies of water in excess of 10' wide by 10' long but, are less than 2' deep.
Learn more about Viruses spread by mosquitoes and areas to watch out for by visiting www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol