Flooding events in New Hanover County leads to more mosquitoes

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A certain insect has been causing irritation in some neighborhoods. This past week there has been an uptick in mosquitoes, specifically salt marsh mosquitoes.    

As Tuesday is world mosquito day, we caught up with the environmental health supervisor in New Hanover County Jeff Suggs to discuss this recent issue.  

Suggs mentioned that this summer historically has been low for the mosquito count. Although right now there is an increased number of mosquitoes as they come off in hoards. Since there has been a larger than normal citizen requests this week the spray schedule for this week has been changed. Three additional spray runs have been added to help combat the uptick in mosquitoes. 

“Because of all the rain and flooding events that we’ve had, we have had a hatch of Salt Marsh Mosquitoes, that have come off, we think that they are actually coming from across the river. That is why they are kind of concentrating in the Sunset Park and Downtown area,” Jeff Suggs said. 

Suggs provided some useful tips to help keep mosquitoes away. Most importantly, dump any standing water and check items that can hold water for 7 to 10 days. Also limit your time outdoors at dawn and dusk but when outdoors be sure to use bug repellent.   

In order to sign up for alerts about when there will be mosquito spraying in your area and see a map of the locations go to the New Hanover County Health & Human Services website and search mosquito control. You can click this link to access their website  New Hanover County Mosquito Control. 

The most recent schedule includes:

Tuesday (8/20/24): Forest Hills neighborhood

Wednesday (8/21/24): Echo Farms, Silver Lake, and Carolina Beach areas

Thursday (8/22/24): Sunset and Greenfield neighborhoods, and southwest of 421

Note that the spray is approved for public health use but as a precaution you can go indoors for 30 minutes when you see the truck in your neighborhood.