County To Spray For Mosquitoes Thursday Morning

The Monmouth County Mosquito Extermination Commission (MCMEC) will be spraying between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Thursday, August 16 to kill mosquito larvae in sections of North Middletown. The spray is designed to prevent the population of the Asian tiger mosquito from increasing.

The Commission will target their spraying for mosquito larvae in the designated zone using truck-mounted LV (Low Volume) machines. The Commission has notified municipal officials, health officers and police of these plans.

The product being applied to control the mosquito larvae is the biological larvicide Bti (Bacillus theringiensis israelensis), which goes by the brand name VectoBac. VectoBac is registered for larval mosquito control by the US Environmental Protection Agency and NJ Department of Environmental Protection. The USEPA does not require relocating or taking special precautions during larval mosquito control spraying.

The MCMEC advises all residents to avoid mosquito bites by wearing protective clothing such as long pants and long-sleeved shirts and use of insect repellent when outdoors during periods of adult mosquito activity.

In addition to personal protection against mosquito bites, the Commission emphasizes that homeowners should ensure that window and door screens are in good repair, and that their property is free of water-holding containers such as cans, buckets, tires, flower pots, tarps, toys and wheelbarrows that create areas where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.

Contact the County Hotline at (732) 578-1600 for the most up-to-date information. Spraying area map, details and additional information can be found on the Commission's website atwww.visitmonmouth.com/mosquito.   

Current schedules and cancellations can also be heard on the Commission hotline at (732) 578-1600.