The Morris County Mosquito Commission, founded in 1928, has the goal of reducing the number of nuisance and disease transmitting mosquitoes within the County. The Commission employs a number of techniques to provide this service to residents with minimal impact on the environment. The program can be summarized as follows:

1) Water Management - The Commission carries out extensive efforts to remove blockages from Morris County waterways, and to maintain drainage systems as needed. Such work is done carefully, with environmental impacts kept clearly in mind. This program helps reduce the use of insecticides needed to control mosquitoes.

2) Larval Control - Mosquitoes all start out in water as larvae, or "wrigglers". In areas where water management is not feasible, larval control is necessary. Some locations are suitable for stocking with mosquitofish, which provide continuous, biological control of mosquitoes. In other areas, larvicides may be used to eliminate mosquitoes. We choose only low impact products for this purpose, and these are put out by trained staff. Locations receive treatment only when surveys show that large numbers of mosquitoes are a threat to populated regions. These products are put out by hand crews, by light ground equipment, or by helicopter. Larval habitats are treated only when larvae are present.

3) Adult Control - Although this is the most visible aspect of mosquito control, we consider this to be a last resort. We try to stop mosquitoes before they are out and flying around. When adult control is needed because of a severe mosquito infestation, we generally use truck mounted sprayers that put out 1/2 ounce of material per acre. Sometimes, small hand sprayers are used to treat remote locations. Occasionally, a large, truck mounted air blast sprayer is used to create a barrier to control adult mosquitoes.

The Morris County Mosquito Commission is constantly striving to improve our operations. These efforts include employing newer, safer products, using new equipment that gets us into problem areas more easily, and trying new methods for controlling mosquitoes. The employees of the Commission take their service to the public seriously, and will work to serve Morris County residents with the best possible mosquito control efforts.

If you have any questions about the Morris County Mosquito Commission. Morris County Mosquito Extermination Commission PO Box 405, Morris Plains, NJ 07950 Phone - (973) 538-3200, Fax - (973) 538-3857, email - meslaff@worldnet.att.net

FACT SHEET ON WEST NILE VIRUS

We will monitor, control if disease appears later in summer You can help by removing containers holding water in yard.

What is West Nile virus - a mild virus of birds that is transmitted by the common house mosquito. Threat usually in those over 40 years old; fatalities rare, usually limited to those over age 60. Symptoms, if they appear, show in 1-2 weeks. If virus occurs, threat is late in summer, NOT spring because disease must build up in bird population. Typical nuisance mosquitoes don't carry West Nile virus.

Morris County Response we will monitor mosquito population levels and for presence of the disease (in mosquitoes and in birds). Control efforts will be intensified if disease shows up, targeting the aquatic stage of the mosquito first, then the adult mosquitoes. We will coordinate with scientists at Rutgers University and with the State Office of Mosquito Control Coordination and Health Departments to watch for West Nile virus.

How You Can Help - Clean up containers that hold water around your yard- buckets, bird baths, tires, pool covers, wading pools, gutters. The house mosquito needs permanent, standing water to multiply- you CAN make a difference by removing these sources!

The Morris County Mosquito Commission employs a modern, integrated approach to mosquito control that meets or exceeds the protocol of the EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program- we monitor mosquito numbers and control these insects only when necessary, using water management, controlling the aquatic stages of mosquitoes with products specific to them, and doing limited adult mosquito control as a last resort. We have a staff of 9 Inspectors who continually survey known mosquito producing areas throughout the County and implement appropriate control measures when necessary.

Web Sites: njmosquito.org
or
cdc.gov for more information on West Nile virus.

BOTTOM LINE We have a thorough, efficient system in place to prevent an outbreak of this disease and to manage nuisance mosquitoes.