City commences 2007 nuisance mosquito control activities

WINNIPEG - April 26, 2007- The City of Winnipeg announced today the commencement of its surveillance and larviciding control activities for the upcoming nuisance mosquito control season.

The City of Winnipeg’s Mosquito Control Program for 2007 will continue to be based on the more environmentally-friendly Insect Control Strategy passed by Council in 2005, namely

• Decreasing the use of chemicals and increasing the use of biologicals for larviciding; and,
• Utilizing a mix of control measures to reduce the need for fogging – larviciding, biocontrols, and residual treatments - then fogging when necessary to supplement these on-going measures.

All of these measures are targeted at keeping the adult nuisance mosquito population at a level that is tolerable for the citizens of Winnipeg.

Surveillance and larviciding of smaller water sites in and around Winnipeg began this week. With the onset of warmer weather, we anticipate increasing our staffing levels next week for ground and aerial-based larviciding activities.

Mosquito larviciding targets mosquito larvae in the aquatic stage before they emerge as adults and is the most effective and environmentally-friendly approach to controlling mosquitoes. Biological products will continue to be used in environmentally-sensitive areas such as residential areas, playgrounds, parks, bee hives, etc.

The City will continue to monitor and test other biocontrol measures such as rearing, releasing and relocating dragonflies and damselflies; and the introduction of fathead minnows into storm retention ponds and other appropriate water bodies.

Fogging will be initiated only when the requirements of both the city policy, utilizing the AFA (Adulticiding Factor Analysis) Guidelines, and the provincial pesticide use permit are met. If fogging is required, the program will be carried out in the entire City (buffer zones respected), prioritizing first for areas with highest nuisance mosquito populations. For details on the AFA factors, please refer to the Insect Control website at Winnipeg.ca/bugline

Property owners who wish to register as “Buffer Zone Registrants” for both the cankerworm and/or adult mosquito control program are encouraged to contact the Insect Control Branch in writing. A minimum 48-hour turnaround time is required for processing so residents are encouraged to begin registering for the 2007 season, in the event that fogging is required.

The Insect Control Branch has made extensive changes during the off season in enhancing its public education system including:

• Introduction of Insect Management Areas – To assist the public, and the media in locating areas which are being treated, all Winnipeg neighbourhoods have now been grouped into 51 Insect Management Areas. Information on all fogging and cankerworm control activities will be provided by referencing the specific Insect Management Area in which they are being carried out. One way of finding out your Insect Management Area is to go the website at Winnipeg.ca/bugline. Residents will now be able to type in their address and click on “Find your insect management area” to find out what Insect Management Area they reside. These area numbers, in addition to the list of neighbourhoods that will be treated, will be referenced in any public service announcement. Insect Control will retain these area numbers over the years so that as residents become familiar with their Insect Management Area, they will find it much easier to reference when their area is going to be treated. These maps, including buffer zone registration forms can be found on our website, as handouts at all City libraries, and in the back of the 2007 MTS White Pages which will be arriving in Winnipeg homes in the near future.
• Enhanced website - Users will find it easier to navigate the website with the new user friendly layout.
• Convenient On line registration is available for:
• Buffer Zones for residents not wanting insecticides on or adjacent to their principle residence.
• Notification by telephone or email of mosquito fogging program activities.

Property owners are also encouraged to help “Fight the Bite” by taking one of the following steps to eliminate standing water on their properties:

Dump It! - containers
Drain It! - eavestroughing or unused containers
Cover It! - rain water collection containers
Fill It! - low-lying areas
Treat It! - biological larvicide

Interested individuals may acquire more information by contacting the City’s Bugline at 311 Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by visiting the City’s Insect Control website at Winnipeg.ca/bugline.