The city plans on stepping up its war on mosquitoes in a big way throughout Queens this Tuesday night.
Three clusters of neighborhoods in northeast, northwest and central Queens will be sprayed with pesticide on July 31 from 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., weather permitting. Trucks will drive around spreading a very low concentration of DUET and/or Anvil 10+10, both of which target adult mosquitoes flying around.
Since June, the city has been using larvicide and pesticide across Queens and other parts of the city in an effort to control the mosquito population. The pests are known to carry the West Nile virus, a potentially deadly illness that’s transmitted to humans through mosquito bites.
The pesticides pose low risks to humans and pets, but the city’s Health Department suggests that residents — especially those with respiratory conditions that could be aggravated by exposure — stay inside during spraying hours. Air conditioners may be used, but you should keep the vents closed or use the recirculate function.
Before the spraying starts, you should bring inside any outdoor items; anything left outside should be thoroughly washed before reuse.
The three spraying areas in Queens to be sprayed on July 31 are as follows:
- Areas of Astoria, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights and Woodside bounded by 20th Avenue, 75th Street and the Grand Central Parkway on the north; 32nd Avenue, the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and Northern Boulevard to the south; 92nd Street to the East; and 35th Street, Astoria Boulevard and 43rd Street to the west.
- Areas of Briarwood, Forest Hills, Glendale, Jamaica, Kew Gardens, Maspeth, Middle Village, Rego Park, Richmond Hill and Woodhaven bounded by the Long Island Expressway, Queens Boulevard, Yellowstone Boulevard, Metropolitan Avenue, Union Turnpike and Grand Central Parkway on the north; Hillside Avenue, 117th Street and Jamaica Avenue to the south; 150th Street to the east; and Forest Parkway, Forest Park Drive, Myrtle Avenue, 73rd Place, the Long Island Rail Road, Rust Street and Maurice Avenue on the west.
- Areas of Bayside, Bay Terrace, Beechhurst (Whitestone), Douglaston and Little Neck bordered by the Cross Island Parkway and Long Island Rail Road on the north; Union Turnpike, Cross Island Parkway, Long Island Expressway, Springfield Boulevard, Northern Boulevard, Corporal Kennedy Street and 26th Avenue to the south; Little Neck Parkway, Marathon Parkway and the Long Island Expressway to the east; and Francis Lewis Boulevard and 166th Street to the west.
In the event of inclement weather, the spraying will be postponed until Wednesday, Aug. 1, during the same timeframe. For more information, call 311 or visit nyc.gov/health/wnv.
Do your part to protect yourselves against mosquitoes this summer. Remember to drain any standing water on your property and, when outside, to use an approved insect repellant containing DEET, picardin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (except for children 3 years of age and under) or the active ingredient IR3535. Keep all swimming pools chlorinated, or covered when not in use.
