Mosquito dunks available to help control annoying insects

Galion Inquirer
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GALION — Are mosquitoes ruining your evening outings?

The city sprays for mosquitoes during the summer, but this year something a little extra is being provided.

In an effort to help protect residents from the threat of mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile Virus and Zika Virus, Galion’s health department will be distributing mosquito larviciding dunks for residents to treat the standing water in their backyards.

Larviciding dunks kill mosquito larva which reduces the abundance of mosquitoes in the area and prevents the larva from developing into adult mosquitoes that may spread West Nile and Zika virus.

Galion residents can pick up dunks at the Galion City Utility Office, 115 Harding Way East.

Dunks will be available on Thursdays from 2-4 p.m., starting Aug. 3, 2017. Dunks also will be available for pick up at the health department, 113 Harding Way East, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting July 31, while supplies last.

The dunks are cards with two larvicide tablets, which residents can use to treat standing water and containers on their property. Each tablet can last 30 days or more depending on the amount of water the dunk is treating.

One dunk can treat 100 square feet of water for 30 days. Mosquito-borne disease prevention starts in our backyards.

Here are some more ways residents can help to cut down on mosquitoes. You can help eliminate mosquitoes on your property by:

  • Emptying, removing, covering, or turning over receptacles that can hold water
  • Cleaning bird baths twice weekly
  • Discarding old tires or by storing them indoors
  • Repairing leaky plumbing and outside faucets
  • Making sure gutters and downspouts are free of blockage and are properly draining.
  • Emptying your pets’ water dishes daily.

As far as spraying, weather permitting, the city is planning a round of mosquito spraying next week.

The southern half of the city — everything south of Harding Way — will get done Aug. 3.

The northern half will be sprayed Aug. 4.

Spraying will begin at dusk. Residents should close their windows and keep children and pets indoors during spraying.

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Staff report

 

 

How do mosquito dunks work?

Mosquito Dunks look like small donuts with a hole in the middle. The hole is used to attach a Dunk in place, so it does not float away. Mosquito Dunks need to be inserted into a standing water, where it floats on the surface and slowly releases a special bacterium, which mosquito larvae eats. This bacterium kills mosquito larvae of all known mosquito species, but is safe to humans, animals, birds, frogs, fish, birds and other animals. The active element is periodically released at the surface of the water for 30 days in a row to ensure that no mosquitoes develop from that certain water container.

 

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