With the recent rise in the threat levels of West Nile Virus across Kansas and other diseases such as the Zika Virus being spread by mosquitoes across the country, the City of Oakley believes that controlling mosquito populations is an important part of keeping citizens healthy. The best way the City can help is by using a fogging truck to disperse small amounts of adulticide into the air.
The City will be using two different adulticides on a rotating basis: BioMist 3-15 and Evoluer 4-4. These two adulticides are used by various federal, state and local agencies to control mosquito populations and have been found to be safe to use in municipal fogging applications.
BioMist 3-15 and Evoluer 4-4 have been found to be toxic to aquatic organisms, including fish and invertebrates. Runoff from treated areas or deposition of spray droplets into a body of water may be hazardous to fish and aquatic invertebrates. The City recommends that citizens with outdoor aquatic organisms cover these habitats with a damp sheet or tarp during fogging applications and remove the sheet a couple hours after fogging has concluded.
BioMist 3-15 and Evoluer 4-4 does not harm bees, but will kill some other biting insects such as the black fly.
Mosquitoes can breed in water as shallow as 1/2 of an inch deep. The City of Oakley asks for citizens to do their part to help prevent mosquito breeding grounds such as:
- Empty anything that holds water twice per week. Examples are bird baths, kiddie pools, garbage can lids, and pottery.
- Remove any items that can hold water, including discarded aluminum cans and tires.
- Keep any swimming pools cleaned and chlorinated, even when they are not being used.
- Fill in divots or holes in your yard that retain water.
- Drill holes in the bottom of garbage or recycling containers stored outdoors.
- Keep gutters clean and unclogged.
More information on home mosquito control can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention/controlling-mosquitoes-at-home.html
