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Posted: August 22, 2006
 Persons used to having evening softball games, picnics, walks and other outdoor activities disrupted by mosquitoes are for the most part surprised this year at the low number of “skeeters” out and about this summer.
“I’m always the first to be bitten!,” said Angi Velez at a recent softball game. “I’m the team’s official mosquito magnet and everyone loves it when I show up because they know the mosquitoes will head straight for me and not for them. There isn’t one out here right now!”
This year is different however. “I really have only been bitten a couple times this year,” said Ms. Velez. “My husband and I have both noticed we don’t’ have mosquitoes in our backyard like usual and even my neighbors have mentioned the lack of mosquitoes around this summer.”
While there ARE mosquitoes out there, the majority of persons you talk to agree there seem to be fewer mosquitoes than normal this year. This makes the recent reports of West Nile Virus in the area even more puzzling as Collin County has reported its largest number of human cases (eight) this summer (2006).
The Plano Health Department continues to be vigilant in their efforts to reduce the Plano mosquito population, this year having Mother Nature as a primary partner.
Mosquitoes need standing water to lay and hatch their eggs. Our summer drought has dramatically reduced the amount of water available for mosquito breeding and the region’s outdoor watering restrictions have also contributed to the lack of standing water for mosquito breeding available around homes and businesses.
“We have increased larvaciding of abandoned residential pools and have targeted areas across the City where we conduct routine sampling and testing,” said Plano Health Inspection Services Supervisor Tomeji Miller. “Most of our targeted sample sites are dried up, but if we receive positive results from the state in our targeted areas, we will canvas the area more heavily to identify those potential breeding sites.”
If persons notice a large number of mosquitoes on their property or in other areas they can contact the Health Department at 972-941-7143. “We will set traps and samples to help accurately identify the species. Once the species has been determined we follow our standard operating practices: source reduction, eliminate breeding sites, larvaciding and spraying if necessary.”
While the mosquito population may appear to be “down,” vigilance in preventing mosquito bites, such as use of repellents when outdoors, should still be taken with any outdoor standing water sources alleviated from around the home and office.
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