Better weather equals better spraying for mosquito control

By David Ball
The Port Arthur News

PORT ARTHUR January 06, 2009 08:53 pm

— Usually a bright spot for Southeast Texas winter months is a reprieve from those pesky mosquitoes.
With this Hurricane Ike affected year, however, even chilly weather isn’t providing solace from the blood-sucking insects in rural areas.
For instance, Kristi Heid is a Sabine Pass resident and principal of the school. She and other residents have been seeing mosquitoes more than usual for this time of year.
“The problem is they (Jefferson County Mosquito Control) won’t spray unless somebody calls. Before, Sabine Pass was on a regular rotation,” Heid said. “My dad died from West Nile Virus a few years ago, and I’m afraid of more cases.”
Sabine Pass ISD Superintendent Mack Nash called mosquitoes in the area are a way of life and something to get used to.
“I haven’t seen the frequency of spraying. We’ve had support from the county in the past. When we have warm weather, I see them out in force,” Nash said. “If we don’t get it now, we’ll get in the spraying routine in the spring. There’s water for breeding and an increase in mosquitoes. There’s a lot of areas with fresh water and I heard mosquitoes can reproduce in one cubic centimeter of water. If we don’t combat them, they will take over.”
Jefferson County Precinct 3 Commissioner Mark Domingue said there are mosquito infestations all along the Gulf Coast because of the hurricanes and wintry weather. Mosquito control planes can’t effectively spray because of wind blowing the spray all around, fog creating low visibility and sunlight warming the ground and rendering the spray ineffective. Domingue explained that’s why spraying in done early in the morning hours or late in the evening.
“It’s been a frustrating month in December because of the unusual amount of fog and wind. We’re doing what our weather will allow,” Domingue said. “Our planes will be at the starting blocks, ready, and we can’t go. And because of the salt water intrusions, there’s a lot of dead grass and mosquito infestations — a lot of standing water particularly in Sabine Pass, the LaBelle-Fannett area and China and Cheek.
“It’s a fairly short-term problem, though. With two good weeks of weather, we can get control of this problem.”
Jimmy Dike, Pleasure Island commissioner, said they not only have a mosquito problem, from “sunup or sundown,” but more flies than they normally have.
“The mosquitoes are a lot larger. It’s been too tough to spray. There’s been too much moisture and Ike left water,” he said.
Phil Owens, city councilman for Taylor Landing, said they have the same mosquito problem as other rural areas of the county.
“You can’t go outside. It’s brutal. What will it be like in the spring? I’m concerned about West Nile Virus at night,” Owens said.
Mayor John Durkay spoke with Domingue who said aerial spraying is more effective than by truck.
“I don’t have as much confidence with the truck work,” Durkay said. “With a break in the weather, we could turn the corner if it’s not too hot or cold or windy. But it’s always been the case — the least populated portions of Jefferson County never get the mosquitoes under control.”
Jeff Branick, assistant to the county judge, said the mosquito control has been spraying, but the chemicals are ineffective when the temperature falls below 60 degrees.
“The wind has been too high and foggy planes can’t get off the ground. They’ve been getting after it, but we’ve received no answer from state emergency management,” he said. “We’ve had pretty good drainage after the storm. It’s just been a wet period.”
In Orange County, the mosquito count should be going down rather than up this time of year. Patrick Beebe, mosquito control director, said after cold fronts leave and the winds shift from the south, warm air and moisture is pulled in from the Gulf and increase mosquito activity.
“Basically, our levels are normal for January; a couple of mosquitoes here are cool weather mosquitoes. Some mosquitoes go through a type of hibernation for insects and seek shelter from the elements. They pick up activity when the weather warms,” Beebe said.
He added there’s no way to foretell if the year will be busy for West Nile Virus since it cycles and fluctuates, but certain indicators may predict a higher number such as with the migration of birds.
The slower pace during winter is essential for Beebe to perform some much-needed maintenance on equipment.
dball@panews.com

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