Village of Lombard offers tips on mosquitoes

LOMBARD, Illinois—The Village of Lombard contracts with Clarke Mosquito for abatement services. The program is among the most rigorous of all communities since it targets larvae in all open waters, in street catch basins, and also in backyard catch basins and poor draining areas.

The Village's program is aimed most directly at the Culex species of mosquitoes that can carry West Nile Virus. These mosquitos are relatively large and they only breed in standing water. Clarke monitors and then treats every public street catch basin as well as more than 140 known private backyard catch basins with time-release larvacide pellets and briquettes. The program also includes surveillance and treatment of larger, hard-to-reach open water areas by helicopter. On occasion, stagnant swimming pools are observed and reported to the Village's Code Enforcement Division for follow-up.

The more numerous, smaller and pesky Aedes vexans mosquitoes do not carry West Nile Virus. These mosquitoes are not easily abated since they may breed in damp vegetation. They have been fewer in number this year due to the drought. The practice of spraying for these and other species of mosquitoes is minimally effective and expensive, as well as problematic for those with respiratory problems. For these reasons, Lombard and many other communities ceased the practice of spraying years ago in favor of a program aimed at controlling larvae in standing water.

Residents should diligently eliminate standing water areas on their property, cover or chlorinate pools, and change bird bath water twice per week. Clarke recommends that people use insect repellent, cover bare skin or stay indoors. Residents may contact Clarke's Hotline at 800-942-2555 to ensure that their catch basin is on the list or to obtain additional information regarding mosquito abatement and precautions.

Trustee Laura Fitzpatrick, Chair of the Village's Environmental Concerns Committee, stated that “the Village of Lombard is taking every reasonable measure to reduce the mosquito population. We encourage residents to take advantage of the Clarke phone-in program, and to protect family members that may be more susceptible to complications that could arise from the West Nile Virus.”

Questions specific to the Village's contract with Clarke should be directed to the Department of Public Works at 630-620-5740.