Solon Makes Preemptive Strike on Mosquitoes

That incredibly annoying itch on your arm can only mean one thing: Mosquitoes are back in town. 

Instead of relying on a mid-summer spraying to fight the problem, Solon Service Director Tom Bandiera said the city is going after the insects early and often.

"We try to be proactive and hope we never have to spray," Bandiera said.

The service department uses larvicide to attack and kill mosquito eggs before they hatch, before the pests present a problem.

Depending on how many mosquitoes hatch, Bandiera decides on the next step.

"The actual spraying program is predicated on how many mosquitoes are in the area," he said.

Workers will set traps and then analyze the number of insects in an area over a 12-hour period. When it hits a critical level, they set up a list to adulticide, or spraying.

The list of places and times is published on Solon Patch so residents know when to expect it.

"It's a scientific approach," he said. "We put a lot into it and keep a lot of data."

Bandiera said Solon hasn't started trapping but the city just finished larviciding.