Do not expect to see city workers around DeKalb spraying pesticide into the air this summer.
DeKalb goes directly to the source to treat the mosquito problem.

Mark Espy, assistant director of Public Works, said they treat catch basins in the drains of curbs with a product called Altosid from late June to September.

The city does not have a huge problem with breeding in the basins, as long as DeKalb gets one inch of rain per week, Espy said. The rain flushes out the basins and mosquitoes are unable to breed.

Espy said the problem occurs when DeKalb is in a period of drought and the basins have stagnant water in them. That is when DeKalb experiences an increase in mosquito activity. Espy said they treat the basins four or five times a year on average, but it all depends on the rain.

“We probably treat 26,000 catch basins each time,” Espy said.

Espy said the last time they sprayed was last August, when DeKalb experienced flooding, causing massive breeding possibilities among mosquitoes.

Loren Cunnington, a sales representative for Altosid, said the product is an insect growth regulator.

“We’re breaking the growth cycle of a mosquito before it flies,” Cunnington said. “The mosquitoes that hatch in [the basins] will never grow into flying adults.”

The Altosid tablets treat all species of mosquitoes, but the one they are really targeting is the Culex mosquito, Cunnington said. This species is the most common carrier of the West Nile virus.

Cunnington said he does not necessarily believe Altosid is better than spraying for mosquito control, but both are effective.

Cunnington said it is helpful to follow an Altosid treatment with a spraying because the Altosid tabs may miss some mosquito larvae that could grow into flying adults.

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