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Hot weather limits mosquito
activity
By Morgan Conklin
Summer
Reporter
Summer is the time to attend baseball games, run
through sprinklers and chase the ice cream man as he drives through
your neighborhood. However, it is also a time when mosquitoes are out
in full force, looking for a human to prey on.
Because the weather is extremely hot right now,
mosquitoes have not become a problem, said Ralph Williams, a professor
of entomology. However, due to the recent rainfalls, standing water
is common, thus providing an area for mosquitoes to breed.
Mosquitoes that invade the Lafayette area during
the beginning of the summer can be a nuisance to humans; however, they
can only transmit heartworm to dogs, said Williams.
However, another type of mosquito that breeds in
stagnant water, or container water, is capable of transmitting encephalitis
to humans. "The state department keeps track of the virus activity
in the area," Williams said. "However, this has not become
a real problem as of yet."
By making sure there are no buckets of water, clogged
gutters or wading pools nearby, residents can help reduce the amount
of mosquitoes that are capable of carrying the disease.
To keep the insects away, Williams recommends using
an insecticide containing DEET, or diethyl toluamide. "It is EPA
approved and is the most effective of all types of repellents,"
he said.
Although many people rely on bug zappers during
the summer, Williams said they are an ineffective way to keep the mosquitoes
from attacking. "They are not effective at all; there is no reduction
in mosquito activity when bug zappers are used," Williams said.
Another method of bug repellant, citronella candles,
does have an affect on mosquito activity when they are used properly.
"Citronella candles are vulnerable to wind activity, and when they
are placed improperly they will not repel the mosquitoes," Williams
said. It is necessary to place candles in a manner so the wind is blowing
the flame toward the area intended for repellent.
Williams said mosquitoes are attracted to human
body odors, not perfume and cologne. He suggests not wearing dark-colored
clothing because it will absorb the heat and odors more quickly, thus
attracting mosquitoes.
The city of West Lafayette takes action to reduce
mosquito activity in the summer by spraying chemicals via trucks. "We
haven’t had to spray yet, but we will as soon as residents start
calling to complain about mosquitoes," said David Cortner, a worker
for the streets, sanitation and recycling department.
To spray an area, trucks drive through streets
with a fogger that emits a mist of non-hazardous spray. If residents
don’t want their yard to be sprayed, they can call the department
at 775-5242.
The city will spray once every week when they begin
to hear complaints of mosquitoes. "Spraying does help, but mosquitoes
are just one tough part of living in Indiana," Cortner said.
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Hot
weather limits mosquito activity
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