It’s a super brood!

 

We are experiencing the wettest summer in over 82 years with some areas, within the greater  Chicago area, collecting over 19 inches of rain.  This creates a unique environmental situation where we are going to continue to experience ongoing unprecedented numbers of floodwater mosquitoes emerging.

 

These rains have dramatically changed the dynamics of mosquito control in the area. 

·   With soils completely saturated, your community has probably experienced increased adult mosquito populations regardless of previous mosquito control efforts. 

·   With populations this high and broods still coming off, typical control levels from a single adult mosquito control application aren’t reachable.  But more frequent adult mosquito control applications can help. 

·   Work with your Clarke Control consultant to review the timing of your remaining applications along with other options.

 

All Clarke light trap counts (female count only)  / Chicagometro area

 

Recommended actions:

·        Be prepared to handle resident inquiries and forward “stagnant” water complaints to the Mosquito Hotline (see below).

·        Secure funds for additional adulticiding for your community.

·        Continue vigilant adulticiding until trap counts are at acceptable levels.

·        Expand and continue inspections and larviciding to prevent further emergence.

 

 

Clarke readiness and support:

 

§    On an ongoing basis, Clarke monitors over 150 light traps and multiple weather stations within the greater Chicago area to better predict brood emergence (hatching) and adult mosquito populations.  We are using this and other information to prepare a specific recommendation for your community.  Your Clarke Control Consultant will be contacting you with this in the very near future.

 

§    We have mobilized all of our equipment and personnel for 7-days a week service.  Our ground and helicopter equipment are equipped and ready for night time adult mosquito control applications and additional larviciding as needed.

 

§    Our Mosquito Hotline, 800-942-2555, is manned and ready to take stagnant water reports from residents.  Reminder: Existing ponds or water sites that have only risen in level DO NOT need to be reported.  Only areas or sites that have been dry and traditionally do not hold water, but are now retaining water for 4 or more days should be reported. (At this time, due to the high volume of calls, it is not necessary for residents to report mosquito annoyance levels.)

MOSQUITO HOTLINE #: 800-942-2555

CLARKE BULLETIN:   MOSQUITO INFESTATION ALERT

Situation:  Excessive rain and flooding throughout much of northern and eastern  Illinois will result in significant numbers of floodwater mosquitoes emerging in the next few weeks.  With heavy rainfall throughout the area, mosquito eggs will find the necessary water to hatch, and large broods of nuisance mosquitoes will be emerging.  As floodwater mosquitoes are poor carriers of West Nile Virus, they do not pose significant health risks to residents, though they can significantly affect quality of life by their sheer volume.  However, standing water from saturated areas are excellent breeding grounds for Culex mosquitoes – prime carriers of West Nile Virus.

These rains have dramatically changed the dynamics of mosquito control in the area.  With soils completely saturated, your community will be impacted with increased adult mosquito populations regardless of previous mosquito control efforts.  You should expect increased resident complaint calls due to the high mosquito annoyance.

Recommended actions:

·        Be prepared to handle resident inquiries and forward “stagnant” water complaints to the Mosquito Hotline (see below).

·        Certain communities may need to secure funds for additional adulticiding.

·        Continue adulticiding until trap counts are at acceptable levels.

·        Expand and continue inspections and larviciding to prevent further emergence.

Clarke readiness and support:

§    On an ongoing basis, Clarke monitors over 150 light traps and multiple weather stations within the greater Chicago area to better predict brood emergence (hatching) and adult mosquito populations.  We are using this and other information to prepare a specific recommendation for your community.  Your Clarke Control Consultant will be contacting you with this in the very near future.

§    Our Mosquito Hotline, 800-942-2555, is manned and ready to take stagnant water reports from residents.  Reminder: Existing ponds or water sites that have only risen in level DO NOT need to be reported.  Only areas or sites that have been dry and traditionally do not hold water, but are now retaining water for 4 or more days should be reported.