City of Chesapeake, VA

06/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/16/2025 08:41

Mosquito Control Awareness Week

National Mosquito Control Awareness Week is June 15 - 21. Warmer weather means more summer fun and out-door activities. It also signals the arrival of some uninvited, hungry guests who want to crash the party. Mosquito season is upon us, so take this opportunity to learn how the City of Chesapeake helps prevent mosquitos and how you can play a role in prevention, too!

Mosquito Prevention in Chesapeake

The Mosquito Control Commission battles mosquitos year-round, but they are especially busy this time of year. Mosquitos love standing water, as it is the perfect environment for their eggs to hatch into larvae. Mosquito Control thwarts the spread of mosquitos at all stages of the insects' lifecycle, beginning with the egg and larvae stages by treating ditches, puddles, and other standing bodies of water after heavy downpours.

Traps are set around Chesapeake, so mosquitos can be caught and studied to determine details concerning species, population, and mosquito-borne disease activity.

For mosquitos in flight, Mosquito control uses a truck sprayer to treat surrounding areas at nighttime. Nighttime spraying reduces the risk of spraying bees and other beneficial insects and pollinators. The amount of spray released is not harmful to humans or pets, and the insecticide breaks down quickly so it does not persist on surfaces in the environment. Routine spraying happens in Chesapeake during the summer, as spray does not prevent mosquitos from re-entering the area. For more information about the insecticide released from these trucks, scheduled spray times, spraying request forms, etc., visit the Mosquito Control pages.

How You Can Make a Difference

Protect yourself and your family by following these tips:

  • Wear long sleeves and pants to deter mosquitos from biting you.
  • Wear insect repellent. Spray it on your hands and then apply to your face, reapplying as needed. Only use repellent on exposed skin or clothing, not under clothing. Do not apply repellent over cuts, wounds, sunburn, or irritated skin. Make sure your repellent is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. Find sprays that contain one of the following: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. Wash repellent off daily.
  • Prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your yard by tipping and tossing the stagnant water found in yard toys, buckets, tires, and junk. Refresh the water found in bird baths and pet bowls. Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets, clean out gutters, and dispose of yard debris properly.
  • If you open your home's windows, make sure the window screens do not have any holes.

For More Information

If you have done everything possible to defend yourself against mosquitos but still have a mosquito problem, please call the Mosquito Control Commission at 757-382-3450 or request services online. They will visit your yard and help you track down potential problem areas. You can also check out the Chesapeake Mosquito Control playlist on YouTube!

City of Chesapeake, VA published this content on June 16, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 16, 2025 at 14:41 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io