LANCASTER, Pa. —
Workers with the Lancaster and Lebanon County Mosquito and Tick-Borne Disease Control and the Department of Environmental Protection will conduct mosquito spraying operations over a large portion of Lancaster County Wednesday night, authorities said in a press release.
The spraying will target residential and recreational areas in and around:
- Good Drive
- Parklawn Court
- Hansom Drive
- Irwin Avenue
- Farmingdale Road
- School Lane Hills Estates
- Mimosa Lane
- Westminster Drive
- Wimbledon Lane
- Paddington Drive
- Valley View Drive
- Nolt Road
- Spring Valley Road
- Dorsea Road
- Fleetwood Drive
- Corvair Road
- Cardinal Road
- Robin Road
- Cobblestone Court
- Hampton Lane
- Meadow Lane
- Landis Woods Park
- Northview Drive
- Peach Lane
- Conestoga Memorial Park
- Hawthorne Ridge
- Kentshire Drive
- Pennshire Drive
- Elmshire Drive
- Sterling Place
- Dickens Drive
Spraying operations are scheduled to begin around 7:30 p.m., and should last until about 10 p.m., officials said. Residents are asked to remain indoors during spraying operations, though outside activities can resume 30 minutes after the spraying is completed.
"High populations of adult mosquitoes that vector West Nile Virus to humans have been detected in these areas," officials said. "Weather conditions and other unexpected events could delay or cancel the spray operation. If these operations are cancelled, they will be rescheduled for September 16."
The Lancaster and Lebanon Mosquito-Borne Disease Program will be conducting this truck-mounted ultra-low volume (ULV) mosquito control operation using the Lebanon County truck under business license BU 13818, and the product used will be Aquaduet applied at a rate of 1.0 fluid oz/acre. This product is designed to provide quick knockdown and effective control of adult mosquitoes. The control event is performed by way of an Ultra-Low Volume Truck Mounted Spray.
"Our sprayer puts out the product in microscopic droplets (approximately a shot glass of product is applied over the distance of a football field)," officials said. "Because the droplets are so small, they degrade quickly and are only 'potent' for roughly 20 minutes before they begin to degrade. Therefore, it is unable to adhere to vegetation/surfaces or leech into groundwater. This protects non-target species such as pollinators and aquatic life.
"Additionally, we specifically deploy this product after dusk when the target mosquito species is most active and pollinators are not. We understand the role pollinators play, and we want to ensure that we do them no harm while also protecting public health from potential mosquito-borne diseases."
Lancaster County residents are advised to protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing or implementing some form of repellent, including wearing long sleeves and pants when outside, authorities said.
Additionally, residents and homeowners should be vigilant of standing water, including artificial containers holding water such as buckets, clogged gutters, unmaintained pools, or tarps. Something as small as a soda bottle cap filled with water can breed mosquitoes.
For more information, contact the Lancaster and Lebanon County Mosquito and Tick-Borne Disease Control Specialist Lydia Mohn at 717-277-5275 x112 or lydia.mohn@lccd.org.
