The Village has contracted with Clarke to perform up to four (4) Village-wide misting applications (adulticiding) to reduce the adult mosquito population during the summer. The treatments will be coordinated with neighboring communities including the City of Zion, the Village of Beach Park, the Village of Gurnee and Warren Township.
The applications take place during early morning hours. Adulticiding occurs between dusk and dawn and attacks adult mosquitoes with a truck-mounted application of an ultra-low-volume spray. All insecticides used have been approved specifically for this purpose and are regulated by the EPA. The USEPA has stated that when used according to label directions, these products pose no undue risks to humans or the environment.
Clarke will apply a Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) listed botanical insecticide used in the Chicago area for adult mosquito control that is labeled by the USEPA for use in residential & recreation areas and can be used in and around organic farms.
Residents desiring advance notification of public health night mosquito control applications will need to select TEXT or EMAIL notification by registering on the new Clarke portal. Phone call notifications are being discontinued. How to make this change:
- Go to www.clarkeportal.com
- Select Register at the bottom of the form.
- Select I AM A RESIDENT and complete the form.
- Create your own password. You will be sent a confirmation email. Once you open that email you will be able to log in and choose your notification preferences.
The Village and the CDC recommend residents take precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites. Especially important is the use of insect repellant containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), Picaridin, (KBR 3023), synthesized Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (PMD) or IR3535 when mosquitoes are active.
However, you too, as a local homeowner, can take numerous, simple, positive, preventative measures to reduce the mosquito nuisance in and around your own home. You can assist the Village in controlling the mosquito population, and thus protect yourself, your children and your pets. Please consider the following tips:
- Get rid of old tires, tin cans, buckets, bottles or any water holding containers.
- Fill in or drain low places (such as puddles and ruts) in your yard.
- Keep drains, ditches, and culverts free of weeds and trash so that water will drain properly.
- Keep roof gutters free of leaves and other debris.
- Cover trash containers to keep out rainwater.
- Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets.
- Empty plastic wading pools at least once a week and store them indoors when not in use.
- Unused swimming pools should be drained and kept dry during the mosquito season.
- Make sure that your backyard pool is properly cared for while you are on vacation.
- Fill in tree rot holes and hollow stumps that hold water with sand or concrete.
- Change the water in birdbaths, plant pots and drip trays at least once each week.
- Keep your grass cut short and the shrubbery well-trimmed around the house so that adult mosquitoes will not hide there.
- Make sure that any ornamental ponds have fish that eat mosquito larvae or else use mosquito larvae control products.
- Repair your window screens.
- When outdoors, use personal protection to prevent bites (that is, insect repellent, mosquito netting and appropriate clothing).
- Use a repellent containing 25-35% DEET, carefully following the label directions.
- Talk to your doctor before applying such a repellent to an infant or child.
- Protect a baby or small child by using mosquito netting over a stroller.
- When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, as well as light colored long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
- Keep your pet(s) out of wet areas and check with your veterinarian before using repellent products.
- When entertaining on a patio or deck, run a strong fan to deter mosquitoes.
- And make sure that your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens, and keep them shut, especially at night.
Working cooperatively, we can eliminate the mosquito's potential breeding grounds and thus increase our enjoyment of the great outdoors.
