Mayor – News – June 2022 – The New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, Rodent and Control Commission will conduct mosquito reduction tomorrow

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board (NOMTRCB) will be performing larviciding tomorrow, June 3, in the Lower 9th Ward in the area bounded by St. Claude Avenue, Jourdan Road, Florida Avenue and the Parish Line. Larviciding will also take place in the Gentilly area bounded by Leon C. Simon Drive, Peoples Avenue, Filmore Avenue and Elysian Fields Avenue. Treatments will take place by truck from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., depending on the weather.

Larviciding treatments target the immature stages of mosquitoes that breed in natural bodies of water such as ditches and roadside swales, or in artificial containers such as tires, buckets, graveyard vases, kiddie pools or other trash and debris.

NOMTRCB uses biological larvicides derived from bacteria naturally present in the soil. These products are very effective and have been used in mosquito control for over 30 years. They work by killing mosquito larvae before they complete their life cycle and become flying, biting adults. These larvicides are non-toxic and only affect mosquitoes and flies. They will not harm people, pets, aquatic life, or any other animals or insects, including bees.

This year, the NOMTRCB will be performing regular region-wide larviciding reduction through truck-based treatments as part of our Integrated Pest Management Program. Residents are urged to remain vigilant and turn over or remove any objects that retain water to prevent mosquito breeding. Residents should expect increased mosquito activity over the next few days and weeks with warmer weather and frequent spring storms. Residents are also encouraged to inspect their homes and yards for containers that may hold water after bouts of rain.

Call 311 or visit https://nola311.org/ to report mosquito problems such as piles of tires, abandoned pools, or areas with standing water that doesn’t drain properly.

For more information on West Nile virus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm.

SAFETY TIPS

Protect yourself

• Reduce exposure to mosquitoes by limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.
• Use air conditioning and make sure window and door screens are in good repair to keep mosquitoes out.
• The CDC recommends using repellents with EPA-registered active ingredients, including DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• When using insect repellent, always follow the recommendations on the product label.

Protect your home

• Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes breed.
• Remove trash and clutter and dispose of discarded tires and containers that may contain water. Turn over paddling pools, buckets, garbage cans, children’s toys or anything that can hold water.
• Change the water weekly in containers that cannot be removed, such as pet dishes or birdbaths. Scrub the side of containers with a sponge or brush weekly to remove mosquito eggs.
• Rain barrels and other water collection devices to have to be projected. The collected water must be used within a week.
• Aerate ornamental ponds, fountains and sugar bowls, or fill them with mosquitoes.
• Report illegal spills, water leaks and unsupervised pools by calling 311.
• Call 311 to report other mosquito problems.

Report tires

• The tires easily fill with rainwater and collect leaves and litter, providing ideal breeding conditions for mosquito larvae. Removing used tires will eliminate a prolific mosquito habitat.
• Residents can call 311 to request a bulk waste collection of up to four tires. Tires must be piled on the sidewalk next to the garbage cans provided by the City.
• Tires located in front of abandoned land, vacant properties or businesses are not eligible for collection and will not be collected. This problem is currently being addressed through cooperative efforts coordinated by the City for treatment and disposal.

For more news and updates, follow NOMTRCB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @nolamosquito.