Twp. Sees Larger Spring Hatch Of Mosquitoes

BY AMANDA BRANIECKI
810-452-2647 • abraniecki@mihomepaper.com

GRAND BLANC TWP. — The unusual weather over the last month has increased the mosquitoes population found in the township, but officials with Rose Pest Solutions assure the situation is now under control.

Mike Rogers, district manager for Rose Pest, said around Memorial Day they experience a Spring hatch of mosquitoes, but due to the amount of rain seen at the beginning of May there was a larger spring hatch than normal in the township.

“Grand Blanc saw about six inches of rain there with flooding everywhere and containers of water that people were not dumping out,” Rogers said, noting standing water is a breeding site for mosquitoes. “In April we were ahead three or four weeks because of the warm weather in March and we actually got through the entire township and were caught up with the larvicide —a treatment that does not destroy wetlands — before the rain. After, we basically had to start over because of the rain washing everything out.”

In addition to the standing water issues, Rogers said the cold night temperatures and wind in recent weeks have prevented them from using the truck to treat areas.

Rogers said they have been able to send the truck out for 45 minutes to an hour before the night temperatures dive down below 55 degrees making it ineffective to treat the mosquitoes.

Last week, Rogers said they experienced winds in excess of 10 m.p.h. that per regulations hindered Rose Pest from being able to spray.

“There was not an opportunity for us to take a truck out at all last week, but we are still out there every day” Rogers said. “I have four guys working all day long going out on foot and spraying.”

Since the large spring hatch, Rogers said the numbers are coming down, but still urged residents to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from mosquitoes.

“My guys are out there every day and in the swamps and we are not getting eaten alive because we take precautions,” Rogers said. “The township has this program, but residents still need to take the proper precautions.

Among some suggestions Rogers stated as standard precautions include applying insect repellent with DEET, wearing long pants and shirts when outdoors at night and bringing a fan outside as mosquitoes cannot fly in the wind.

For residents wanting Rose Pest to inspect their property to determine if it is a breeding site are asked to fill forms found on the Grand Blanc Township website, www.twp.grand-blanc.mi.us, or call Rose Pest at 810-238-3071.

“We need people to call in every year,” Rogers said. “If they call and give us permission to come out on the property and we find it to be a breeding site we can then schedule visits to come out on a regular basis.”

Grand Blanc Township has utilized a mosquito abatement program for about 20 years with Rose Pest running the program since 2006.

In August 2010 voters in the township approved a .2377-mill levy for mosquito control. For 2012, the township increased its millage rate from .1482 mills to .1596 mills due to the reduction in the township’s taxable value.