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Home > News &
Info > Mosquitoes!!! > Why the
City of Saginaw Does Not Spray.
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WHY
WE DON'T SPRAY FOR MOSQUITOES:
There are many reasons the City of Saginaw does not
spray for mosquitoes, but the most important are the questions about the
effectiveness of the insecticide and the negative impact on the
environment. Because of these concerns, the City continues to
promote the importance of preventing mosquitoes at their source and
wearing insect repellant to prevent bites. |
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Spraying chemicals in
Saginaw would not rid the city of mosquitoes. To kill a mosquito, the
chemical has to actually make contact with the insect. This may work
for a swarm of mosquitoes in a wide-open space with no wind. However,
driving a truck down a neighborhood street to spray will do little to
kill mosquitoes hiding in grass, bushes, trees and backyards.
Not only is spraying
costly and ineffective, there may be serious environmental impacts
caused by chemicals. While spraying for mosquitoes may provide a
short-term response to the nuisance of mosquito bites, it does nothing
to affect the larva present in standing water. The spraying of
chemicals also has the potential of contaminating our waterways, killing
the beneficial fish and organisms that feed on mosquito larva, adding
harmful volatile organic chemicals to the atmosphere (chemicals that
cause ozone formation), and providing a potential inhalation or
ingestion hazard to residents who are in affected areas shortly after
spraying occurs. |
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Because of the risks posed to humans, animals and the
environment by spraying, Saginaw does not spray for mosquitoes.
However, residents themselves can take action against mosquito
infestation. The most effective way to reduce mosquitoes in
your neighborhood is to remove their source of life…standing
water. Thousands of mosquitoes can hatch from a single puddle
of water that is stagnant for at least four days. |
STEPS TO
REDUCE MOSQUITOES:
The City of
Saginaw would like to offer the following suggestions to reduce
mosquitoes around your home and yard:
- Get rid
of old tires, tin cans, bottles, buckets, drums and other
containers in your yard or keep them empty of standing water
- Empty
wading pools frequently and store them indoors when not in
use
- Repair
leaky pipes and outside faucets
- Replace
your outdoor lights with yellow "bug" lights.
- Change
water in bird baths and scrub them twice a week
- If you
have outside pets, empty their watering dishes daily
- Clean
clogged roof gutters and drain flat roofs
- Treat
standing water that can't be drained with Bacillus
thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), available at most home and
garden stores
- Make sure
window and door screens are "bug tight"
- Whenever
possible, remain indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes
are most active.
When outdoors,
wear protective clothing, or use insect repellent with the
active ingredient DEET to avoid exposure to mosquitoes. Always
read instructions before using insect repellent or other
chemicals. |
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