- A quick update on how the season is going
- Easy ways your residents can help reduce mosquito populations
- Where to find updates, alerts, and helpful resources
But first, a big thank you to everyone who has helped us reduce standing water and habitat for mosquitoes and tick, we truly appreciate the teamwork.
🦟 Program Update
Since March, BCDH staff have been hard at work inspecting and treating mosquito habitats across the County. This includes removing standing water, applying larvicide where water can't be drained (like storm drains aka catch basins), and addressing the Areas of Concern reported by you.
We’ve also deployed adult mosquito traps throughout the County. The mosquitoes collected are sent to the state lab to test for West Nile Virus (WNV), Jamestown Canyon Virus, and St. Louis Encephalitis. These traps are simply meant for surveillance of species, rough population estimates, and determining the presence of virus activity in the area. Unfortunately they aren’t meant to reduce the population of mosquitoes.
➡️ As of now, only one mosquito sample in Bucks County has tested positive for WNV earlier in the season, and treatment followed immediately. All additional samples have been negative. That’s great news, but we typically see activity rise in July–September, so we remain prepared.
If needed, we may conduct targeted nighttime adulticide events, aka sprays, using our calibrated truck-mounted equipment. You will always be notified beforehand, especially so we can avoid conflicts with outdoor events or gatherings. We try to notify at a minimum of 48-hours prior to the treatment.
🏡 How Residents Can Help
- Eliminate Standing Water
Mosquitoes love water in items like tarps, unused pools, toys, boats, clogged gutters, or plant saucers.
- Know Your Mosquitoes
- Culex mosquitoes (which spread WNV and St. Louis Encephalitis) breed in woodlands pools, roadside ditches, some containers, and even sewage treatment plants. They also primarily bite at dusk and night.
- Aedes albopictus (aka Asian tiger mosquito, which can spread Jamestown Canyon Virus) prefers small containers with clean water and bites all times of the day. They are smaller and have striped legs.
- Protect Yourself
- Avoid the outdoors during peak biting times
- Wear long sleeves, pants, and closed shoes when possible
- Use EPA-registered insect repellents
- Install outdoor fans because mosquitoes are weak fliers!
🔎 Stay Informed
Follow BCDH for tips and spray alerts:
📘 Facebook: Bucks County Health Department
📸 Instagram: @buckshealthdept
County Website for Mosquito Updates & Spray Notices:
🌐 www.buckscounty.gov
Optional Resident Notifications:
- RSS Feed: News Flash RSS (RSS reader app required)
- Email Alerts: Notify Me Signup
For broader statewide info, visit the PA DEP Mosquito Control Program
