St. Charles County Department of Community
Health & The Environment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2007

CONTACT:
Barry McCauley, Mosquito Control Officer                                                                                        636-949-7404
Cameron Satterfield, Public Information Officer                                                                               636-949-7408

Mosquitoes Emerge in St. Charles County
Biting insects a nuisance, but pose no disease threat

St. Charles County, MO - Recent rains in St. Charles County have provided perfect conditions for breeding mosquitoes. The Department of Community Health and the Environment has received hundreds of calls from citizens in the last week about the problem. While the insects are a nuisance, the type currently emerging in the county do not pose a threat to human health.

Mosquitoes can develop from eggs to adults in standing water in seven to 14 days when conditions are favorable. To eliminate these breeding grounds, county mosquito control officer Barry McCauley offers these tips:

• Eliminate standing water by properly disposing of old cans, bottles, vases, and tires.
• Inspect rain gutters and downspouts for blockages and clean them out if needed.
• Fill in or drain areas where water may stand for more than one week.
• Empty and refill small wading pools and birdbaths several times a week, and properly maintain larger backyard swimming pools.
• Buckets, wheelbarrows, wagons, and other objects that can collect water should be stored upside down.
• Rain barrels, cisterns, and fire barrels should be covered with 16-mesh screening.
• Stock rock garden pools and lily ponds with small fish, including the mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis).

The county's Mosquito Control Program has already been out inspecting and treating standing water to stop larval mosquitoes before they emerge. In addition, St. Charles County conducts early evening spraying to control adult mosquitoes. However, crews cannot spray if it is windy or raining. To discourage mosquitoes from biting, people can apply a topical insect repellent containing at least 20 percent DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide). Repellents containing picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil are also effective. Always follow label directions when applying insect repellent, especially on young children.

For more information about the St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment, call (636) 949-7400 or visit www.scchealth.org.

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