Mosquito Larvicide Kit
/ Jim Kenyon
As the fight continues against disease carrying mosquitoes, hundreds of free home larvicide kits remain stockpiled in Central New York.
As part of the "Fight the Bite" campaign, the State of New York has purchased thousands of anti-mosquito kits for homeowners in six counties including, Onondaga, Oswego, Oneida and Madison counties in Central New York.
The kits are free on a first come, first served basis but relatively few people have taken advantage of the offer.
They're intended to kill off mosquito larvae in pools of standing water including, water gardens, bird baths, roof gutters and unused swimming pools. The packets dissolve on contact with surface water and spread an insecticide containing Bacillus thuringiensis. According to the label, the larvicide "will not harm fish or other benefitical aquatic organisms."
In Onondaga County, the kits are available at the Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation District which is located at the St. Marie Museum on the Onondaga Lake Parkway.
District Manager Mark Burger says less than 100 people have picked up the larvicide kits leaving more than 450 still available. Burger says he has contacted local towns and villages and will begin distributing the kits at their offices as well.
According to the State Health Department, 830 mosquito pools throughout the state have tested positive for the West Nile Virus including 13 in Onondaga County and 5 in Oswego County. There have been 25 human cases of West Nile statewide which includes 2 in Onondaga County and 1 in Oswego. To date there have been 2 deaths recorded in New York State including 1 in Onondaga County.
The Towns of Hastings and West Monroe in Oswego County have decided on their own to begin aerial spraying for mosquitoes. They expect to begin spraying Thursday evening.
The kits are available at:
Onondaga County
Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation District at the St. Marie Museum
(315) 457-0325
Madison County
Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District
(315) 824-9849
Oneida County
Oneida County Soil & Water Conservation District
(315) 736-3334
Oswego County
Hastings Town Hall
(315) 668-2456
New Haven Town Hall
(315) 963-3900
West Monroe Town Hall
(315) 668-8314
