Important Information on Mosquito Management
Town’s Mosquito Management Program in Full Swing
(May 19, 2015) East Hartford, CT – Mayor Marcia A. Leclerc would like all residents to know that the town has begun spraying larvicide around town-owned property and that East Hartford’s Mosquito Management Program is fully operational.
Residents should know that the Town is committed to fighting the hatching and breeding of mosquitoes on town-owned property and for over a decade has contracted with a mosquito management company to combat this annual seasonal issue. Successful long-term mosquito control requires knowledge of where and how the mosquitoes develop.
Innovative Mosquito Management, which is the company the town contracts with, has significant knowledge due to the extensive field analyses they have performed over the past several years. The first applications consist of spraying and larviciding in the areas where mosquito infestations are most severe.
East Hartford is one of the only towns that continue to commit significant tax dollars annually for our mosquito management program. Mayor Leclerc and the Town of East Hartford remain committed to their program and over the years have invested in the people
“I have continued with our program because of our commitment to the health and safety of our residents,” Mayor Leclerc said. “We believe that having a mosquito management program is crucial to controlling and preventing the spread of disease.”
The Town protects residents by larviciding the storm drain system and by applying fog and spray buffers on state and town-owned watercourse and wetland properties that abut neighborhoods and local parks. This helps block mosquito movement into inland residential areas.
As in the past, the town will continue to do their part to address the pesky mosquitos throughout the summer with applications being performed regularly. Residents can also take steps to alleviate mosquitos on their property. The most effective way to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and neighborhood is to find and eliminate the breeding sites - standing water. A neglected bird bath, swimming pool, base of flower pots or a clogged rain gutter can produce hundreds and hundreds of new mosquitoes in a just a few days. Trees uprooted by storms leave soil depressions that collect seepage and rainwater.
The Town of East Hartford sells “Mosquito Dunks,” which are sold for $3 for a pack of 3 in the Health Department. Typically, one donut-shaped dunk can be placed in standing water where it will break down slowly when wet and will release insecticide over a 30 day period alleviating the breeding of new mosquitos.
As the drier days of summer come we will see less breeding, because of standing water being eliminated. As always, the town will keep this as a high priority. Resident feedback is an important part of the process and we welcome any information you can provide that will enable us to pinpoint the most crucial areas. Should you require additional information, have questions or concerns, feel free to contact my office at 860-291-7200 or the Health Department at 860-291-7324.