Truck will spray for West Nile mosquitoes in and around Lancaster

The Lancaster and Lebanon Mosquito-Borne Disease program will be spraying for adult mosquitoes tonight beginning around sunset Wednesday night in parts of Lancaster city, Lancaster Township and West Lampeter Township, where significant populations of adult mosquitoes that can carry West Nile Virus have been detected.

Program officials say the spraying likely will begin around 8:30 p.m. and conclude by 11 p.m. Residents who live within the vicinity of the following streets should remain inside during the application:

Residential and recreational areas in and around St. Mary’s Cemetery, Riverview Cemetery, Wabank Street, Wabank Road, New Dowart Street, Seymore Street, South Broad Street, Chesapeake Street, Almanac Avenue, South Franklin Street, South Marshall Street, North Reservoir Street, North Plum Street, New Holland Avenue, East Walnut Street, East Frederick Street, East James Street, North Duke Street, East Lemon Street, Second Street, Coral Street, Franklin Street, Park Avenue, Ranck Avenue, Orange Street, Cottage Avenue, Jamaica Road, Riverside Avenue, Ranck Mill Road, North Conestoga Drive, Manor Shopping Center, Manor Street, Millersville Pike, Charles Road, Lafayette Street, Hershey Avenue, High Street, Saint Joseph Street, Second Lock Road, Dante Boulevard, Mallory Street, Kentshire Drive, Pennshire Drive, Elmshire Drive, Sterling Place, Dickens Drive, Millport Road, Duncan Street, Lightfoot Drive, Kings Arms Lane, South Jefferson Court and East Jefferson Court.

The roads listed above are for reference only, and other roads and areas in close proximity may be sprayed as well. Residents should remain inside while the spray is being conducted, though outside activities may resume 30 minutes after the spray.

If weather conditions prohibit the spraying, it will be rescheduled for Monday, according to a news release from Lancaster city.

The Lancaster and Lebanon County Mosquito and Tick-Borne Disease Control Specialist and a Department of Environmental Protection biologist will be on site for the application, according to the release. The Lancaster and Lebanon Mosquito-Borne Disease program will be conducting a truck-mounted, ultra-low volume mosquito control operation, applying spray at a rate of 1 fluid ounce per acre.

The sprayer puts out microscopic droplets, applying approximately a shot glass of spray over the distance of a football field. Because the droplets are so small, they degrade quickly and are potent for only about 20 minutes before they begin to degrade, according to the release. This prohibits the spray from adhering to vegetation and surfaces or leeching into groundwater. Spraying after dusk targets specific mosquito species when they are most active and pollinators are not.

Health officials remind homeowners to be vigilant about the presence of standing water, including containers holding water such as buckets, clogged gutters, unmaintained pools and tarps. Something as small as a soda bottle cap filled with water can host breeding mosquitoes.

For more information about the Lancaster and Lebanon Mosquito-Borne Disease program, visit www.lccd.org/mosquito-borne-disease-program.