DOVER – Through a new public awareness campaign beginning today, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Mosquito Control Section urges residential and business property owners throughout the state to empty all standing water sources, large and small, to reduce mosquito-breeding habitat on their properties. The “Look About, Dump It Out!” campaign will be featured in television and radio public service announcements, billboards and public outreach.

“Any standing water left for four or more consecutive days has the potential to breed mosquitoes, whether it’s in the bottom of a boat or a bottle cap, and it needs to be drained to help eliminate breeding habitat and reduce mosquito populations. That’s our message in ‘Look About, Dump It Out!’” said Mosquito Control Administrator Dr. William Meredith. “With mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus already established in Delaware and the possibility of Zika virus occurring in the local mosquito population, reducing mosquito-breeding habitat is more crucial than ever.”

Items that should be drained or otherwise rendered unable to hold water include: discarded cans, buckets, jars, jugs; tires; clogged/improperly draining rain gutters and flexible downspouts; flower pot liners; stagnant bird baths; ornamental ponds; uncovered dumpsters, trash cans and lids; pet dishes and animal troughs; abandoned swimming pools and kiddie pools; children’s toys; upright wheel barrows; depressions in tarps; boats with drain plugs in place; abandoned vehicles and large household appliances.

Nineteen out of the 57 mosquito species found in Delaware are known to bite humans and several can transmit mosquito-borne diseases. Of these, two are short-distance flyers that breed primarily in artificial container habitats commonly found in urban or suburban locations and some rural areas. The native common house mosquito is primarily a nighttime biter but is also active around dawn and dusk, and is the primary transmitter for West Nile virus in Delaware. The non-native, invasive Asian tiger mosquito, which bites during daylight hours and around dawn and dusk, is a secondary vector for West Nile virus in Delaware, but is also known to carry dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika virus in other parts of the world. Both species can be difficult to control with insecticides, with eliminating breeding habitat the best means of population control.

For more information about Delaware’s Mosquito Control program, please call 302-739-9917.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 47, No. 89

Photos of Delaware Department of Agriculture’s surveillance of Emerald Ash Borer can be found on Flickr.

DOVER — Are you helping invasive pests spread in Delaware or around our country? You may have heard that invasive plant pests and diseases are primarily introduced through commercial trade—that’s true. But once they are here, these destructive plant pests don’t move far on their own; they are mostly spread by us. Through our everyday actions—when we take firewood from home to our campsite, mail a gift of homegrown fruits or plants, or order plants, seeds or fruit online from uncertified or uninspected sources—we can contribute to the unintentional spread of any number of destructive plant pests. So when people wonder if their individual actions really matter—the answer is yes.

On a daily basis, our staff is on the lookout for damaging pests like imported fire ants, the Asian Longhorned Beetle, and Ramorum blight. In 2015, imported fire ants were detected during a routine check during an inspection of tropical nursery stock. Fortunately, they were eradicated and no longer pose a threat. We need your help to keep it that way. That’s why it is important for everyone to learn more about these destructive plant pests, take responsibility, and help us stop the spread of invasive species.

It only takes one person to move something they shouldn’t. While they are a strong flyer, it is most likely the emerald ash borer (EAB) beetle hitchhiked into Delaware. And now all of our urban, suburban and rural ash trees are at risk of attack by this devastating pest. And, the risks from EAB stretch well beyond New Castle County and Delaware borders, today EAB infestations are in 30 States.

Invasive plant pests and diseases are a threat in almost every state. If we allow them to enter and become established, these pests could devastate our neighborhoods and public green spaces, and cause damage to native species of plants, forests, watersheds, lakes, rivers and water delivery systems. As it stands today, damage from invasive plant pests costs our nation about $40 billion annually.

To protect our State, we are asking Delawareans to join us in the battle against invasive plant pest and diseases. If you suspect an invasive pest or disease, contact our Plant Industries section at (302) 698-4500. Get acquainted with the hungry pests that would like to dine in Delaware by visiting www.hungrypests.com. This April—Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month—we urge you to help stop the spread of these harmful pests.

###

Media Contact: Stacey Hofmann, 302-698-4542, stacey.hofmann@delaware.gov