Director: David Fiess, MPA, REHS • Phone: (260) 449-7459 • FAX: (260) 449-7460 • Email: dave.fiess@co.allen.in.us
Location: 2242 Carroll Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46818 • Hours: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
Meet the Staff: Tom McCue, REHS, Asst. Director; Francis Koch, Env.Technician; Pat De Haven, Secretary; Seasonal Mosquito Technicians

Mosquitoes

The Division's Mosquito Surveillance and Control Program began in the mid-1970's in response to an outbreak of St. Louis Encephalitis in Allen County.  Currently, the Program utilizes 5 - 7 seasonal employees to respond to complaints, inspect and treat mosquito breeding sites, place adult mosquito traps, and conduct night-time spraying to control disease-carrying mosquitoes.  The Program runs from April to mid-October. 

Sanitary code enforcement is conducted by full-time staff.  Examples of a need for code enforcement are residents storing un-rimmed tires and open containers outside and not maintaining swimming pools and spas.

As mentioned, adult mosquitoes are captured in gravid traps and tested weekly for West Nile virus (WNv).  If WNv is found in a sample, a 1/2-mile radius area around the positive trap location will be sprayed with an EPA-approved adulticide.  Spraying will occur after a 24-hour notice is provided to the public through the media and postings on the Department's website, www.allencountyhealth.com.  To receive an email notification when the Department will be spraying, click here to sign up.

Education is also a component of the Mosquito Surveillance and Control Program.  When inspecting a property, employees educate homeowners and tenants about prevention measures, such as flushing out birdbaths once a week and wearing repellants.  When WNv is identified in the mosquitoes, a press release is sent out with prevention measures listed.

Please click on the following links for more information about mosquitoes:

 

Bug Off : How to take the bite out of mosquitoes
Bite Back
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More Articles:   General Information • FAQ • Animal Bites & Rabies • Bed Bugs • Children's Environmental Health Protection • Cockroaches • Indoor Air Quality • Meth Labs • Mold • Mosquitoes - Biology • Mosquitoes - Diseases • Mosquitoes - Prevention & Control • Pests & Other Vectors • Radon • Rats & Mice - Biology & Diseases • Rats & Mice - Control • Ticks • Unsanitary Conditions • Unwanted Refrigerators & Freezers • Integrated Pest Management

Photo Gallery

Click thumbnail to see large image.
  • This engorged American Dog Tick was pulled off a human. To prevent tick attachment, wear light-colored clothing, long pants with the bottoms placed into the top of socks, and apply a DEET-product to your clothing. Check your clothing and body after exiting a high grass or wooded area.
  • De-rimmed tires breed mosquitoes and can provide drinking water for rats. Culex species, ones that can carry WNv, and Ae. triseriatus, carrier of LaCrosse Encephalitis, use tires as a habitat when in the larval form. The sun heats the black rubber allowing for increased mosquito production, even when it is cool out. Tires should be properly disposed of or covered to prevent mosquito breeding.
  • A female Culex mosquito laying an egg raft, which can consist of 200-300 eggs.
  • Mold needs water to grow. Remove the water source and there won't be a mold problem.
  • The American dog tick is the largest tick in Indiana and can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
  • Sticky traps are a great tool to catch cockroaches.
  • Rats like to eat grease, as can be seen in the pan on the stove.
  • Educating the public on Vector-borne diseases is an on-going effort.
  • Ae. triseriatus, a carrier of LaCrosse Encephalitis, lays her eggs in treeholes and containers.
  • Mosquito larvae
  • Cockroach infestation in kitchen cabinet.
  • Mosquitofish can be placed into ornamental ponds to eat mosquito larvae. The fish only get to be an inch in length.
  • Un-maintained swimming pools are perfect for breeding the mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus.
  • Double whammy for mosquito breeding - uncovered boat with un-rimmed tire in it.
  • Notice the pop can the rats tried pulling into a burrow.
  • This rat ate poison bait stored in a secure station.
  • Bed bugs do not transmit diseases, but their bites can become infected if scratched too much.
  • Ingredients taken from a meth lab that was found in a house.
Did You Know?

Mosquitofish can eat up to 500 mosquito larvae a day.

 

Fort Wayne - Allen County Department of Health
1 E Main St, 5th Floor, Room 501 ♦ Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Phone: 260 449-7561 ♦ Email: info@allencountyhealth.com
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