Darien Gets Jump-Start on Mosquito Season with Pre-emptive Measures

The warmer temperatures and blue skies are also bringing with them an abundance of mosquitoes. But Darien officials hope their proactive measures will help keep the pesky swarms at bay.

For several years, the city has contracted with the Roselle-based Clarke Mosquito company to control the mosquito populations.

Throughout the summer, Clarke Mosquito staff employ a number of measures, such as using Abate larvicide pellets in the city’s catch basins, doing helicopter treatments of large standing water areas, adding mosquitofish in standing water areas as a bio control agent and backpack treatment of standing waters areas that can be reached by foot with insecticides, said Scott Coren, assistant city administrator.

Darien spends about $40,000 a year for its mosquito control program.

There are also some measures citizens can take to keep the blood-sucking pests away.

“It’s important residents -- especially those with birdbaths or old tires, or anything that can hold standing water on their private property -- be cognizant to change the water every few days,” Coren said.

He also recommends the use of insect repellent and citronella candles for the yard.

For those with catchbasins in their backyards, residents can notify the city for treatment.

Unlike some municipalities, Darien will not be fogging -- spraying neighborhoods with pesticide -- to kill mature mosquitoes.

“The fogging itself kills off less than five percent of adult mosquitoes and it puts chemicals into the air,” Coren said. “We never wanted to pursue it because of concerns of what it could do to human health.”