The Monmouth County Division of Mosquito Control has initiated a program to treat stormwater catch basins in the streets of select neighborhoods with either a history of or current indication of West Nile virus activity. A catch basin continuously holding a bit of water is a classic habitat for Culex mosquitoes known to amplify West Nile virus. The purpose of this preventative effort is to squelch mosquito production in these basins. There is no evidence of West Nile virus activity anywhere in the county at this time.
On Tuesday, July 23rd between 4:00 and 7:00 PM, the Monmouth County Division of Mosquito Control will be treating the curbside catch basins in the Leonardo section of Middletown.
The County will be applying diluted Vectobac 12AS, a liquid larvicide with the active ingredient Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), directly into the catch basin using a truck-mounted formulation tank and attached nozzle. Bti is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that can kill mosquito larvae and is considered a low impact pesticide by EPA and approved for organic farming in other formulations. It is non-toxic to mammals, fish, and birds. If for some reason access to a basin is blocked, the applicator will step out of the truck and apply part of a mosquito dunk which also uses Bti.