Mosquito Management
Repel
The CDC recommends five active ingredients in repellant: DEET, Picaridin, IR 3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol.
Cover
To help prevent insect bites, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and consider treating clothing and gear with permethrin.
Remove
Reduce the number of mosquitoes around property and home by eliminating standing water and using windows and door screens.
Mosquito Management
During mosquito season, which is typically June through September, the city’s mosquito contractor conducts weekly trapping of adult mosquitoes at 18 trap locations spread throughout the city. Spraying of mosquitoes is performed as needed, and a complete analysis of species of mosquitoes is also performed. The city’s mosquito contractor is Vector Disease Control International (VDCI). To report mosquito issues or to learn more about reducing their population, call the VDCI at 970-278-9977 or toll-free: 877-276-4306.
There are over 3,000 species of mosquito worldwide and about 175 mosquito species have been found in the United States with about 20 different species being found in Colorado. The Zika virus carrying mosquitoes have been identified by World Health Organization to be Aedes aeghpti and aedes abpictus (also known as the Asian Tiger Mosquito). To date, these two species have not shown up in Colorado adult mosquito traps.
Find additional information on the Zika Virus at CDC.gov/zika/
West Nile
Most mosquitoes do not transmit disease. Unless you are at high risk, it is not necessary to limit any outdoor activities. Those who are at highest risk of becoming seriously ill from West Nile infection are adults over 50.
Find additional information on the West Nile Virus at https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html.
Protect A Home from Mosquitoes
Frequently Asked Questions
The WNV is transmitted to people and animals by bites from infected mosquitoes. Only certain species of mosquitoes carry the virus and very few mosquitoes actually are infected. In Colorado, these viruses are transmitted to people by a species called Culex tarsalis, a medium-sized mosquito that feeds in the few hours around dawn and dusk. During the day they rest in shady, secluded areas, such as under porches, roof overhangs, tall grass, shrubs, and storm sewers. They breed in almost any source of standing water, including irrigated fields, old tires, hoof prints, flowerpots, tree holes, or any puddle of water that lasts for more than a few days. How are People and animals Infected with the West Nile Virus (MNV)? The virus is maintained in a bird-mosquito0bird cycle. Mosquitoes are infected by feeding on a bird with virus in its blood. The virus is transmitted to a new host in the mosquitoes’ saliva when the insect bites another person or animal. Humans and horses are incidental dead-end hosts in that they cannot infect other mosquitoes. Person-to-person transmission does not occur. The virus is prevalent from May to September when mosquitoes are most abundant, but the risk to humans occurs primarily from August through early September.
What is "mosquito control"? Mosquito control is the process of actively reducing the number of mosquitoes. Comprehensive mosquito control can use one or more approaches that target different environments and life stages of the mosquito.
Why should mosquitoes be controlled? The most important reason to control mosquitoes is to reduce the likelihood of diseases such as West Nile virus being transmitted to people through mosquito bites. Throughout history, no insect has been a more significant contributor to human discomfort, disease, and death than the mosquito. Even mosquitoes that do not transmit disease can be bothersome in their biting behavior. In severe instances nuisance mosquitoes can be economically detrimental to businesses, and reduce the quality of life for residents.
How is mosquito control accomplished? Most mosquito control programs reduce mosquito populations through a multi-faceted approach known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). A mosquito has four life stages - egg, larva, pupa, and adult. In the life cycle of the mosquito, only the adult stage does not require standing water. An IPM program targets each life stage of the mosquito, but is intended to eliminate as many mosquitoes as possible before they emerge as biting adults.
What is the City of Greeley’s Mosquito Control Program? The City of Greeley contracts out it’s mosquito control program to an independent contractor who performs a multi-faceted approach focusing on attacking the 3 life stages of the mosquito in standing water thru weekly site inspections and larviciding practices and weekly light trap monitoring of adult mosquito activity.