Chesapeake, Va. - Baby mosquitoes are already showing up in standing water across the City of Chesapeake, waiting to grow up to bite you.
"We've had plenty of rain, plenty of snow and the swamps are full," said Joe Simmons, Director of the Chesapeake Mosquito Control Commission.
Simmons says the cold, wet winter kept many of his crews from cleaning out ditches. That helps keep the water flowing so mosquitoes can't find a place to breed. But now, the city is turning its attention to its yearly aerial spraying, which will begin Monday.
"The idea is if we can go in with larvicides now, kill those larvae before they hatch out, then we've got a big head start on the rest of the season," said Simmons.
The City of Chesapeake will use helicopters to spray larvicide to treat parts of the city where they can't go by foot or by vehicle. Don't worry, it's safe for pets and people. For 12 days, crews will target the following areas:
- Areas adjacent to the northeast corner of the Great Dismal Swamp.
- Along the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal.
- Along Route 17 and east along the Northwest River basin to the Route 168 Bypass.
- Areas south of Elbow Road and south of Pocaty Road.
"We can delay mosquito problems probably for six weeks or better," said Simmons.
And that will help cut down on the bites those hungry mosquitoes bring, too.
The spraying will take place from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting Monday.
