Bugs be gone! These Queens neighborhoods are the next to undergo pesticide spraying

Two sections of Queens will be sprayed with pesticide this Thursday night as the city’s Health Department continues its never-ending effort to eradicate mosquitoes that may carry the West Nile virus.

Trucks will be driving around western Queens and the Rockaways delivering their mosquito-killing load beginning at 9 p.m. on Aug. 24 and continuing until 6 a.m. the following morning. (In the event of inclement weather, spraying will be postponed until Monday, Aug. 28, during the same hours).

One of the spray zones covers a portion of Astoria, Ditmars, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Steinway and Woodside. It’s bounded on the north by 20th Avenue, 75th Street and the Grand Central Parkway on the north; 43rd Street, Astoria Boulevard and 35th Street on the west; 32nd Avenue, the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and Northern Boulevard on the south; and 92nd Street on the east.

The other spray zone is situated in the Rockaway neighborhoods of Arverne, Bayswater, Edgemere, Far Rockaway and Somerville. The zone is bounded on the north by Jamaica Bay on the north; Amstel Boulevard and Beach 73rd Street on the west; Seagirt Boulevard and Rockaway Freeway on the south; and Hassock Street, Beach Channel Drive, Redfern Avenue, Virginia Street, Central Avenue, Virginia Street, Elvira Avenue, Reads Lane, Jarvis Court and Beach Sixth Street on the east.

These areas were chosen, according to the Health Department, due to an overall increase in mosquito activity. This is the fifth time this summer that neighborhoods in Queens will undergo pesticide spraying.

As noted, trucks will be spraying “very low concentrations” of the pesticide Anvil 10+10, which is not harmful to humans when properly used, the Health Department noted. Still, exposure to the pesticide may aggravate symptoms of those who suffer from asthma and other respiratory ailments. The Health Department advises all in the spray zones to remain indoors during spraying with the windows closed; air conditioners may be used, but the vents should be in the closed position.

Anything left outside during spraying should be thoroughly washed with soap and water before reuse.

Call 311 or click here for more information.