Spring Campaign Will Reduce Numbers of Year’s First Biting Mosquitoes
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will begin annual spraying of spring woodland pools to control aquatic immature (larval) mosquitoes on Wednesday, March 16, weather permitting. Spraying by DNREC’s Mosquito Control section will begin in southern Sussex County, then expand into Kent and New Castle counties over the next several weeks. Controlling early-season woodland pool larval mosquitoes limits the emergence of biting adult mosquitoes later in the spring.
Up to 10,000 acres of wet woodlands near select populated areas will be treated with a helicopter applying the bacteria-derived insecticide Bti. As with all insecticides used by the Mosquito Control section within the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, Bti has been determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to pose no unreasonable risks to human health, wildlife or the environment when applied in accordance with product label instructions as required by federal law.
The spring woodland mosquito larvae spraying campaign marks the beginning of Delaware’s mosquito control season, which in most years continues until late October or early November. Control activities will be expanded starting in mid-April to larval and adult saltmarsh mosquitoes, other freshwater mosquitoes, and urban and suburban container-breeding mosquitoes to manage mosquito populations for improving the state’s quality of life and to protect public health.
Locations and times for scheduled mosquito spraying activity can be obtained by calling toll-free 800-338-8181. Mosquito spraying announcements can also be received by email, text or voicemail by subscribing to Mosquito Control’s Spray Zone Notification System at de.gov/mosquitospray.
To request local mosquito control service, please call the following Mosquito Control field offices
- Glasgow Office, 302-836-2555, serving New Castle County and the northern half of Kent County, including Dover.
- Milford Office, 302-422-1512, serving the southern half of Kent County south of Dover and all of Sussex County.
For more information on mosquito control in Delaware, call the Mosquito Control Dover office at 302-739-9917.
