St. Charles County Department of Community
Health & The Environment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2010

Mosquitoes Swarm St. Charles County

St. Charles County, Missouri – Warm weather and plenty of rain are creating perfect conditions for mosquitoes to emerge in St. Charles County. Workers with the Department of Community Health and the Environment are inspecting known problem areas in the county and applying insect control chemicals where needed. This includes the use of spray trucks with insecticide to reduce the adult mosquito population and larvicide in pools of standing water where mosquitoes hatch.

“Every decade or so, we experience what might be called a ‘perfect storm’ for mosquitoes,” said Dr. Barry McCauley, vector control coordinator for St. Charles County. “When abundant rain, warm weather, and a large number of surviving eggs laid in the fall combine, we get swarms of mosquitoes. The good news is, the mosquitoes emerging right now are not usually the kind that cause disease in humans, but they can still make your time outdoors miserable.”

McCauley says residents can protect themselves by using an insect repellent. Consumers should look for a product that contains DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Products containing these active ingredients provide reasonably long lasting protection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The repellent should be applied according to package instructions.

County residents can also do their part to reduce mosquitoes in their neighborhoods.

• Eliminate standing water
• Flatten cans and containers or puncture holes in bottom
• Completely seal cesspools and screen all vents
• Clean clogged roof gutters and drain flat roofs so no water stays
• Cover all standing receptacles, such as rain barrels in rural areas, with netting
• Empty and refill outdoor bird baths every few days
• Stock garden pools and ponds with fish or aerate them
• Tilt wheelbarrows and machines with containers to prevent holding water
• Empty watering cans and wading pools after using
• Dispose of old tires or anything that holds water

“Eliminating mosquito breeding areas makes our control efforts more effective,” McCauley said. “We depend upon the public to control backyard mosquitoes in their neighborhoods and alert us to larger problems.”

Residents who are concerned about mosquito populations in their area are encouraged to call the Division of Environmental Health and Protection at (636) 949-1800.

The St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment is committed to the protection and enhancement of health and the quality of life for all members of our community. For more information, call (636) 949-7400 or visit www.scchealth.org.

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