The Morris County Mosquito Commission is treating Rockaway neighborhoods as warm weather and heavy summer storms push the local adult mosquito population higher.
The commission recently carried out truck-mounted spraying across several streets in and around the White Meadow Lake community, including Cayuga Avenue, Algonquin Avenue, Miami Trail, South Brookside Avenue, North Brookside Avenue, West Lake Shore Drive, Jackson Avenue and Apache Avenue. Crews typically treat neighborhoods after dark, between 9 p.m. and midnight, weather permitting.
Workers apply one of two products approved for mosquito control, Anvil 2+2, which contains the active ingredient sumithrin, or Zenivex E4, which contains etofenprox. The materials are released in very low volumes designed to knock down flying adult mosquitoes.
Mosquito activity often spikes after the kind of heavy rain and flooding that swept through Morris County this week, since standing water gives mosquitoes fresh places to breed. Residents can lower the risk around their own homes by emptying water that collects in buckets, tarps, clogged gutters, kiddie pools, toys and plant saucers, and by keeping window and door screens in good repair.
The county also advises wearing an EPA-registered insect repellent and covering up around dawn and dusk, when many mosquitoes are most active.
Rockaway residents who want more details, or who want to check upcoming treatment dates for their street, can reach the Morris County Mosquito Commission at 973-285-6450 or visit the Morris County Mosquito Control page online.
