With June just ended, the second quarter of 2019 will likely test the record books for rain. While n o t as severe as April, which saw essentially double the average rainfall, May and June continued to be well above average. Even though Otter Creek is within its banks, the wetlands are still holding an excessive amount of water. Continued large rainfall will perpetuate large mosquito nesting areas. However, the worst of the flooded fields is hopefully, but no guarantees, in the past. 
Larvae counts are now generally moderate in most areas, although there were some high counts — 50 to 200 larvae in a “dip cup” — in late May in Brandon and mid-June in Pittsford. The Brandon, Leicester, Salisbury, Goshen Insect Control District (BLSG) treated these area with larvicide to the extent possible. Sampling and larvicide treatments will continue across nearly 70 sites as new generations of mosquitoes can occur every two to four weeks. 
Adult mosquitoes have been a reality since about Memorial Day. The severity and locations can vary daily as new hatches of eggs turn into adults in various locations every week or two. BLSG field technicians placed approximately 18 traps throughout the district’s area to determine where counts are high and spraying is needed. The traps have a small light and emit a small amount of CO2 to entice the mosquitoes into the traps. Guided by the trap counts and telephone reports there have been five nights when spraying occurred so far this season. In each case four or five routes were covered. You are encouraged to learn about the spray routes at BLSGmosquito.com. Look at the district maps section to find your route and then look at the Public Notice section to see if spraying will occur soon. Routes that will be sprayed are posted each day by 3 p.m., if spraying is planned for the evening. 
Editor’s note: Jay Michael is a member of the BLSG Insect Control District board.