Mosquito Spraying
The City of Slayton will be implementing the first year of its mosquito population reduction efforts this summer. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of nuisance mosquitoes. Along with being a nuisance, some mosquitoes can be the transmitter of several serious diseases.
The focus of the program will be to minimize active adult mosquitoes. As the truck moves about Slayton neighborhoods using the ultra-low volume sprayer mounted in the back, a light visible fog will move through the area. The fog will not cause visibility problems. Common sense precautions should be taken, including keeping away from the spray vehicle and out of the fog cloud. The majority of the spraying will be done from dusk to midnight.
The following dates are proposed dates of treatment. Treatments are proposed for Tuesday nights, if weather permits. Wednesday nights will be the standard alternate. Treatments may be extended if deemed necessary by City officials.
Truck ULV Treatment Dates:
Tuesdays and Thursdays through out the summer. Rain dates: Wednesdays and Fridays
The product being used is BIomist 4+4. This Permetherin based product is extremely safe, yet very effective against mosquitoes and gnats. The product has quick knockdown, low odor, and is non-corrosive.
This product is registered by the EPA and the MN Dept. of Agriculture. Listed below are web addresses where you can find the product's MSDS sheet, label, and EPA registration documents.
Biomist 4+4 MSDS
http://www.clarke.com/images/pdf/MSDS/2012MSDS/biomist44-msds.pdf
Biomist 4+4 Label
http://www.clarke.com/images/pdf/Labels/2012Labels/biomist44.pdf
EPA Registration
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/008329-00035-20040823.pdf
Even though we have selected one of the safest products for this use, common sense dictates that general precautions should be taken when using any pesticide. The City of Slayton wants to have a safe and effective mosquito control program this year. Using trained city staff to handle the equipment and insecticides is of the utmost importance. The City of Slayton encourages your support and cooperation in their efforts.
The spraying schedule for the City will be posted at city hall, and also on the City's website. Also available at city hall are fomrs that citizens can complete, refusing mosquito control around their property and/or to be directly notified. before their property is sprayed. Upon completion and return of the refusal form, the City will not spray directly in front of the listed property.
In addition to the City's control program, you can do several things to reduce local mosquito populations:
* Eliminate trash, tires, and containers that may hold water and creat breeding sites for mosquitoes.
* Store boats covered or upside down.
* Empty plastic wading pools at least once a week and store them inside when they are not used.
* Keep rain gutters and down spouts in good repair. Make sue no water remains in them after a rain.
* Fill depresions in the lawn that hold water.
* Keep clean water in pet water bowls, bird baths, plant saucers and trays.
* Store pails, barrels, tubs, boats, wheel barrows, etc. upside down.
* Keep shrubs, lawns, and weeds trimmed to eliminate shady places for mosquitoes to rest during hot daylight hours.
* Keep screens intact and tight-fitting to prevent insects from entering your house.
Josh Malchow
City Clerk/Administrator