Mosquito Control Requests – What You Can Do

Have you recently requested mosquito control service? In the past, Chesapeake Mosquito Control Commission has done backyard inspections and sometimes sprayed yards, but over the past several days, we have seen requests increase from an average of five per day to well over 100. We don't have staff to spray that many yards, even if we suspend all our other work to combat mosquitos in the city, including scientific monitoring of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases, elimination of mosquito breeding sites, treating stagnant water for immature mosquitoes, and ULV (night time spraying) for adult mosquito problems.

We are asking for your patience and your help. The Asian tiger mosquito is one species that is very difficult for us to control, and it also happens to carry the Zika virus. These mosquitoes only lay eggs in small artificial containers that catch and hold rainwater and the adults remain hidden in backyards. Control of this species requires individual inspection of private property to find and eliminate egg-laying sites. The Commission will perform these inspections if there is no evidence of other mosquito problems, but they are labor intensive and take considerable time. Our resources are limited and we cannot personally respond to the large volume of requests for personal property inspections we have recently received. Citizen action is a much quicker and more efficient method of controlling Asian tiger mosquito problems.

Please watch our 5-minute video guide (below) to Asian tiger mosquito control, it will give you the knowledge and tools to reduce Asian tiger mosquito problems.