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For Immediate Release • June 30, 2010
Staff Contact: Rigo Leal, Public Information Officer, 303-651-8840
View the most recent Press Releases.
JUNE 30, 2010 - Since the mosquito traps near Jim Hamm have captured more than 100 mosquitoes with at least 50 percent of those trapped belonging to the Culex species (the type known to carry West Nile Virus), Jim Hamm Nature area near 17th Avenue and County Line Road will be sprayed with adulticide, weather permitting.
The adulticide is applied by truck in ultra low volumes (.007 lbs/acre) with a water based chemical that is very effective against mosquitoes. This chemical is applied in the later evening hours when mosquitoes are most active. The designated threshold for spraying is triggered when any one of twelve trap sites throughout the City encounters adult mosquitoes of 100 or greater and 50% or greater of those trapped are of the Culex species or once WNV positive mosquitoes are found in any of the surveillance zones associated with Larimer, Weld or Boulder Counties and our trap counts exceed 100 adult mosquitoes.
These trap sites are monitored and evaluated on a weekly basis by Colorado Mosquito Control. This information is shared between CMC, the Boulder County Public Health Department and the City. Typical hotspots for mosquito activity generally concentrate around water. These locations include Boulder County Fairgrounds, Jim Hamm Park, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Golden Ponds, Clover Basin, and the Shores neighborhood.
The City of Longmont has contracted with Colorado Mosquito Control (CMC) to implement an "integrated pest management program" to combat mosquitoes that might carry the West Nile Virus. This program focuses on first attacking mosquitoes in their larval stage before they become airborne. This is the best method since it eliminates mosquitoes before they hatch. This method also minimizes fogging to kill the adult, airborne bugs. However, some localized spraying might be necessary. The Boulder County Mosquito Control District spray schedule is published every Tuesday in the Boulder Daily Camera and Longmont Times-Call. The City of Longmont Spray Schedule appears every Tuesday in the Longmont Times-Call in conjunction with the Boulder County Mosquito Control Program ad.
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