As areas across the state begin to dry out, we can expect to see mosquito populations begin to rise over the next two weeks. In most residential areas, our major problem will be with mosquito species such as the Asian tiger mosquito which tend to stay very localized and take advantage of standing (and stagnating) water that is trapped in poorly draining low-lying areas, ditches that are clogged with silt and debris, clogged rain gutters, carelessly discarded containers, etc. Coastal areas in particular will see rises in salt marsh mosquito populations. These mosquitoes can fly miles in search of a meal. Mosquitoes can be an extreme nuisance to people as they work outdoors cleaning up after storms.
Some municipalities may decide to initiate mosquito control programs if mosquitoes become a significant nuisance. For individuals, spraying yards isn't necessarily a priority compared to other recovery issues and may be difficult if areas are still flooded or still extremely wet. Any spraying should be done with great care and particularly if people are working outdoors cleaning up or children and pets are outdoors.
When people call and ask what they can spray to control mosquitoes in their yard, suggest that they start with a little "R&R":
REMOVAL - the technical term for this is "source reduction". The basic term for it is "Common Sense". Aside from a tasty meal (you, in this case), mosquitoes need water in order to breed. As mentioned earlier, our major problem in residential areas are mosquitoes breeding in those temporary ("temporary" being a relative term) sources of water. So, start your mosquito control program by removing standing water. We call them "drainage ditches" for a reason - they're supposed to collect and drain water, not keep it impounded to make a 'mosquito motel'. So, remove silt and debris that clog those ditches so that storm water drains more quickly. Check tarp-covered items for standing water and remove it. Empty all of those water-filled containers that you've been planning to get rid of from your back yard. Better still, get rid of those water-filled containers!
Additional information and links about mosquito control can be found at:
http://insects.ncsu.edu/Urban/mosquito.htm
REPEL - since you'll be outdoors keeping busy with storm cleanup, use
repellents to protect yourself from becoming a mosquito meal. You can apply repellents to *exposed* skin and to your clothing to keep pesky mosquitoes away. You can find information about repellents on our website at: http://insects.ncsu.edu/Urban/repel.htm
Lastly, add another "R" to that list - "REMIND" your neighbors that mosquito management requires a community effort. Everyone needs to participate in the cleanup of their own property and common areas to remove mosquito breeding sites.
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Flies
Fungus gnats will be abundant in landscaped areas particularly in wet areas where the fungus gnat larvae often bail out of the saturated soil and large groups move in synchronously resembling a snake (see ENT/ort-29).
Particularly in flooded areas where people will be cleaning up and discarding
water-soaked carpeting, furniture, etc., these items become a breeding site for fungus gnats and other pests. Obviously, the ideal solution to this situation would be the complete removal of wet and moldy debris but that likely depends on local resources to haul them away. Spraying the materials with pesticides is not a good option from my perspective because people may handle these materials (hopefully while wearing gloves). Similarly, wet decaying organic matter will also be an enticing food source for various "filth flies" (house flies, blow flies, etc.) One of the major sources may be spoiled food discarded from freezers and refrigerators that lost power during storms/flooding. Discard these materials in trash bags and try to storm them in trash cans (with lids) until they can be picked up or taken to a landfill or waste disposal site.
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Fire ants
