THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS (April 28, 2016) – To reduce mosquitoes after recent rains, The Woodlands Township urges residents to check their yards for standing water and to empty containers to reduce mosquito breeding sites. Standing water is an open invitation for female mosquitoes to lay eggs. Drain after rain is a simple, yet critical means for homeowners to reduce mosquito populations and mosquito-borne disease.
“We urge everyone to inspect their yard and dump out water from household containers or anything that can hold even the smallest amount of water, like buckets, toys, birdbaths, plant saucers and tarps,” says Township Environmental Services Manager John Geiger. Water can also accumulate in French drains, inside meter boxes, in clogged rain gutters and around downspouts. Areas of standing water that cannot be drained should be treated with Mosquito Dunks® or similar products which are available at home and garden centers. These products contain bti, a biological larvicide that does not harm people, pets, fish or most other insects.
Irrigation systems should remain off for at least seven days following heavy rains. No more than an inch of water a week is best for lawns. Too much water makes grass vulnerable to disease and insect damage. Runoff from overwatering remains a major factor in the proliferation of mosquitoes in the community. Irrigation systems that do not have an operating rain sensor should be turned to manual control so the landscape is watered only when needed and no more than twice a week.
Mosquitoes are becoming very active now, according to Mr. Geiger. Ample breeding sites coupled with warmer temperatures accelerate the development of mosquitoes from eggs to larvae to flying, biting adults. Eliminating mosquitoes before they fly is the most effective way to stop the insect, he explains. “Neighbors working together to control breeding sites is by far the most effective way to reduce disease-carrying mosquitoes.”
When mosquitoes become a problem, the Township reminds residents to think WET: Wear repellent; Eliminate breeding sites; Treat where you cannot drain. For more information about repellents and mosquito abatement or to report mosquito concerns in The Woodlands, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/mosquitoinfo or call The Woodlands Township’s Environmental Services Department at 281-210-3800.
Photo: Pour out standing water wherever you find it.