Aerial Mosquito Control Planned for Wednesday Around Laramie

LARAMIE -- City of Laramie Mosquito Control has scheduled the aerial application of Dibrom for control of adult mosquitoes in rural areas adjacent to the City at 8 p.m. on Wednesday evening, June 26. This application is targeted to control both nuisance and vector mosquitoes, including Culex tarsalis, which can that transmit West Nile virus.

“Currently, we have low vector mosquito numbers in city limits but are increasing in rural areas,” said Mosquito Control Crew Supervisor Tyler Shevling. “Migration of these vector mosquitoes into city limits is likely if left uncontrolled. The aerial application will be conducted during the evening hours to coordinate with the peak of mosquito activity and to reduce the likelihood of contact with citizen’s work and recreational activities.”

Shevling said 3 areas are scheduled for treatment: Southwest of the city limits along Highway 230 and the Big Laramie River drainage from the City limits southwest approximately 10 miles; West of the city limit between the Big Laramie River on the South, Interstate 80 on the north and the Laramie Regional Airport on the west; the third area is north of the city limit between Welsh lane and 45th street including the area of the city wastewater treatment plant and the city landfill.

Dibrom will be applied at the ultra-low-volume rate of 1/2 ounce per acre. The application will be rescheduled to take place at 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, if inclement weather prevents the application on Wednesday.

Additionally, Dave Whitman, secretary for the Big Laramie Mosquito Control Corporation, said the BLMCC has also coordinated their efforts with the City, spraying additional acreages.

“We cover everything along either side of Hwy. 230 from near the 5-mile marker to Woods Landing, including Pahlow Lane, Lake Hattie, and the Harmony area, as well as irrigated meadows near Sand Creek and along the Laramie River,” Whitman said.

“This is a little different program than we’ve done in the past, in that it’s going to be an evening spray program, much the same as the city does. We’re using a different product. We hope to get it done quicker, and we’re sure it will be an effective program,” said Whitman.

Shevling and Whitman advise beekeepers to cover their beehives during the times that planes are in the air. Residents and homeowners that may have health concerns related to aerial application of ultra-low volumes of insecticides used for the control of mosquitos should stay indoors while the planes are in the air.

Currently, the City of Laramie has tested five pools of mosquitos for West Nile Virus with one sample testing positive. Due to low numbers of vector mosquitos, the risk for West Nile Virus infection remains at Level 1 (Low Risk).

Schedules regarding Mosquito Control and Parks and Cemetery chemical applications for control of weeds and insect pests are available daily on the Mosquito Control and Integrated Pest Management Hotline at 307-721-5056. The schedule is available at approximately 4 p.m. daily.

Spraying information is also available on the City website. Look for the Daily mosquito and chemical application hotline tab on the home page.

For further information, contact Tyler Shevling, Mosquito Control Crew Supervisor at 721-5258; tshevling@cityoflaramie.org or Todd Feezer, Assistant City Manager at 721-5226 tfeezer@cityoflaramie.org.

Questions about the Big Laramie Mosquito Control Corporation program may be directed to Dave Whitman at 303-760-3501 or John Wetstein at 307-742-8734.