(PITTSBURGH) - Starting this week, and over the course of April and May, the Allegheny County Health Department’s (ACHD) Housing and Community Environment Program will launch its annual treatment of over 50 wetlands in 20 municipalities to target mosquito larvae. Treating Allegheny County’s wetlands is an effective and safe way of controlling the region's mosquito populations. The use of mosquito control products is a central component to state and local strategies for limiting mosquito borne diseases.
Since the 1970s, ACHD has treated area wetlands each spring in order to limit the local mosquito population. Acting on the advice of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, ACHD will be using a biologic larvicide called
Fourstar 180, which is made from a naturally occurring bacteria found in soil. While this product is effective against mosquito and blackfly larvae, it is safe for other aquatic life, humans, and other animals.
“Among our many management practices to control mosquito populations, our annual spring wetland and catch basin treatments are some of the most effective at preventing diseases like West Nile Virus.” explained ACHD Food, Housing and Health Policy Deputy Director Otis Pitts. “The product our staff uses kills mosquito larvae developing in water before they become biting adults, but is safe for humans, pets, other animals and insects.”
The ACHD Housing and Community Environment Program couples its spring efforts to treat the wetlands with its annual treatment of more than 10,000 catch basins throughout the City of Pittsburgh. For 2024, an additional 2,500 catch basins will receive treatments in the boroughs of McKees Rocks, Mount Oliver, and Wilkinsburg. This combined action significantly limits the region’s mosquito population. Standing water, such as wetlands, catch basins, and storm drains are the preferred breeding habitats for disease-carrying mosquitoes. This year, catch basin treatments will take place starting the week of May 20th, 2024.
Together, these treatments lower the risk of mosquito borne disease transmission to humans later in the year and reduce the need to conduct spraying for adult mosquitoes.
If residents notice an issue in their area that may be causing a mosquito problem, such as standing water in a neighbor’s yard, tire piles, clogged rain gutters, unmaintained pools, or blocked catch basins, they are encouraged to report the issue to the ACHD’s Housing and Community Environment program using the
online complaint form or by calling
412-350-4046.