County Spraying for Mosquitoes by Air

Charleston County's Mosquito Control Program is taking to the air to combat the over-abundance of winged bloodsuckers currently plaguing the Lowcountry.

The Program will be using a small plane to spray several areas of the county beginning today through this weekend, including a large portion of West Ashley along the Savannah Highway corridor on Friday (see map).

Charleston County has employed aerial spraying for mosquitoes for more than 30 years, according to Mosquito Control Program Superintendent Donna Odom.

"It is recommended that people and pets remain indoors during spray, specifically if they have known chemical sensitivities," Odom said. "The plane releases material at a very low dosage of 1 ounce per acre and the product begins dissipating very quickly. The product is not a residual spray."

Mosquito Control uses aircraft and ground vehicles to keep track of areas of standing water - prime breeding ground for mosquitoes - and treat them to kill the pests in their larval stage before they take flight and begin biting. In some cases of semi-permanent standing water Mosquito Control workers will release small predatory fish to eat the mosquito larvae. The Program also sprays pesticide to kill adult mosquitoes from ground vehicles and air craft. Mosquito Control also runs a Citizens Awareness Program to educate county residents about mosquitoes.

Each year Mosquito Control uses aircraft to treat more than 50,000 acres across Charleston County, and it treats another 500,000 acres with ground vehicles.

Mosquito activity has been much worse so far in 2012 than it was in 2011, according to information from the Mosquito Control Program. So far this year Mosquito Control has received 1,625 calls from residents, by the same time in 2011 only 323 calls had been placed to the program.

Next week has been declared National Mosquito Control Awareness Week by the American Mosquito Control Association, and Mosquito Control personel will be going door-to-door in the Melrose area for a special citizens awareness campaign.

For more information on the Mosquito Control Program visit its website or call 202-7880 to request service, or 202-7886 for information on educational programs.