LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – West Nile virus has been found in Lubbock’s mosquito population, and the city’s Vector Control Department is working to suppress mosquito numbers within city limits and Lubbock County.
The department is responsible for surveying, monitoring and controlling mosquito populations across the area. Vector Control Coordinator Steven Boston said the city is focused on breaking the mosquito life cycle early.
“What we’re really trying to do is break the cycle,” Boston said. “Right in there is probably, right on the surface, you see the little swiggles right in there? Those are mosquito larvae.”
Vector Control sprays insecticides in areas such as shallow water basins. Larvicides are used to kill mosquito larvae before they mature, while adulticides target mosquitoes that have already developed. Boston said acting early is critical.
“These are very shallow basins right here,” Boston said. “In that basin where we saw in that much space probably 200 mosquito larvae? Just think, there’s probably 100,000, 200,000 mosquito larvae in this thing.”
Lubbock has 27 different mosquito species. Boston said spraying mosquito repellent remains an effective way to avoid bites, but residents can also help reduce the local mosquito population.
“Go into your backyard, dump any standing water that you have because just a little bit of storm water under pots, if it’s been sitting there for a week or so, it can actually start being a source for mosquito larvae, and you might actually be breeding your up your own mosquitoes in your own backyard,” Boston said.
Boston said the city plans to maintain suppression efforts throughout the summer.
“We are going to have mosquitoes, but we don’t have a massive outbreak type of population, thank goodness,” Boston said. “We’re keeping it suppressed and that’s what we try to do throughout the entire summer.”
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