WARSAW — The city of Warsaw is launching its seasonal spraying for mosquitos. 

Due to warmer weather, there is a large population of larvae that will soon hatch, according to a news release from the city issued Friday afternoon.

The city is divided into four sections (north, north side additions, south, and south side additions) for spraying purposes.  The spraying crew rotates to a different section on a daily basis, weather permitting.  However, rain, wind, or temperatures below 60 degrees will prevent them from spraying and delay the schedule. 

Spraying is typically conducted around sunset or later.  It may also be conducted in the early morning between 5 and 7 a.m.  All trucks are equipped with smart flow systems that enable them to spray the lowest necessary concentration to treat the current mosquito conditions.  

According to the Center for Disease Control, when applied correctly, truck spraying will not harm people, pets, animals, or the environment. Residents do not need to leave an area when truck spraying takes place. Spraying dissipates quickly, and there are no re-entry precautions or limitations.  It degrades quickly in the environment and does not bio-accumulate. While the fog makes the spray appear greater, amounts as low as 6 tenths of an ounce may be used per acre (approximately the size of a football field).

City crews are also treating catch basins with briquettes that activate when the basin is flooded and deactivate when the basin is dry.  Areas with stagnant water are also treated with granules that provide three to four weeks of larvae control.

While West Nile has not yet been detected in Kosciusko County this year, it has been detected in neighboring areas such as Elkhart County.

Residents are strongly encouraged to take preventative measures on their own property to help control the mosquito population. Those include:

• Dispose of unused containers that collect water in your yard, such as old buckets, cans, bottles, or jars.
• Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets, and keep drains and gutters unclogged so the water does not collect in those areas.
• Change the water and scrub the sides of birdbaths, animal troughs, and pet watering dishes often to get rid of mosquito larvae.
• Properly discard of unused tires, make holes in them, or store them in a covered area, so that water cannot collect in them.
• Turn wheelbarrows, tubs, children’s wading pools, and boats upside down or store them under cover when not in use.
• Keep weeds, vines, and grass trimmed since mosquitoes use shady areas as resting places during hot daylight hours.
• Fill tree holes with sand or mortar so that water does not collect in them.
• Change water in vases and pots holding flowers and cuttings twice weekly.