![Aedes aegypti, mosquito. Photo By Rafaelgilo (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.](https://greyareanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Aedes_aegypti141.jpg "Aedes aegypti, mosquito. Photo By Rafaelgilo (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.")
In an effort to decrease the mosquito population, the city of Rocky Mount encourages residents to recycle old tires and tip over containers that have accumulated water. Used tires and standing water provide a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes and an incubator for mosquito eggs.
Explained Kelly Cook, supervisor for the city’s Community Code Division:
“Mosquitoes don’t fly far from home, no more than a couple hundred yards or so. If there seems to be a lot more mosquito activity than normal in the area, chances are there is a standing water source somewhere close by. Tip it, toss it, disturb it or spread it out — please don’t give mosquitoes a pool to play in.”
Over the past three seasons, the city has been very proactive, aggressive and successful with larvicide efforts, which significantly reduces the number of hatching mosquitoes.
According to Cook, however, the amount of rain and the subsequent standing water right now is unlike anything the city has seen since Hurricane Matthew. While larvicide efforts have increased, so has the amount of hatching mosquitoes due to the numerous areas of standing water. Said Cook:
“We rely on residents to see the empty flower pot with an inch or two of water, the old tire laying on its side and collecting water or an open roll out cart with a small amount of water in the bottom. Tip & toss is the best way to help keep the neighborhood mosquito free.”
The city’s fogging efforts have increased this season, but that has been hampered by the afternoon or evening thunderstorms. Fogging occurs either late at night from 11pm-3am or early in the morning from 3am-6am. According to Cook:
“If we are able to fog during those hours and we catch a thunderstorm within 12 hours, it basically neutralizes the fogging. When we can catch a break in the weather and get 24 hours or more of good weather without wind or rain, we’re fogging as much residential area as we possibly can.”
For those citizens who receive solid waste pick up from the city, a maximum of two tires may be placed beside their trash receptacle on their collection day.
Residents who live outside the city limits in Edgecombe County may dispose of up to five tires weekly at one of the nine county convenience center locations. Locations are:
- 442 Living Hope Church Road in Macclesfield
- 349 Baie Road in Rocky Mount
- 1542 Gay Road in Rocky Mount
- 1242 Dickens Road in Speed
- 46 Burnette Farm Road in Tarboro
- 2797 Colonial Road in Tarboro
- 1056 Spivey Road in Tarboro
- 1429 Hart’s Chapel Road in Tarboro
- 335 Wells Road in Whitakers
Nash County residents may recycle tires at:
- Nash County Landfill, 3057 Duke Road in Nashville
- Nash County Convenience Center, 9842 Stony Hill Church Road in Middlesex
To learn preventative measures to stop the spread of mosquitoes, call the city of Rocky Mount Vector Control (mosquito) supervisor at 252.467.4957.
What do mosquito larvae look like? Watch The Grey Area News‘ video below, which shows mosquito larvae in standing water — first in a tire and then in a wagon.
Source: Tameka Kenan-Norman, City of Rocky Mount
