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MAGNA — For less than the price of one take-out pizza per property per year, one Salt Lake County taxing entity is hard at work, killing to protect the public it serves.
Magna Mosquito Abatement office manager Ryan Lusty and his staff have been trapping and identifying mosquitoes that are breeding and feeding in the Magna and West Valley City areas. Out of the 50 different varieties of the pesky insects found throughout Utah, Lusty and his staff have identified 10 different types of mosquitoes on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley.
Of those found, three are black biters, called Aedes campestris, vexans and nigromaculatus. Two types are the ones that carry West Nile virus, Culex pipiens and tarsalis, which will be more noticeable in late summer. One type is known as the malaria mosquito, Anopholes freeborni. Another type, Aedes sierrensis, can infect your dogs with heartworm. The last three that will be piercing your skin for your blood will be Ochlerotatus dorsalis, Culex erythrothorax and Culiseta inornata mosquitoes.
"A female mosquito can lay her eggs in as little as a bottle cap of water."
Residents are encouraged to help this war on mosquitoes. Lusty explained that mosquitoes need water to breed and lay their eggs, and this has been a very wet spring. A female mosquito can lay her eggs in as little as a bottle cap of water. Salt Lake County officials are supplying clean-up containers so property owners can clean areas in their yards that attract the unwanted insects. Lusty also stressed neighbors should discard standing water in vacant homes in their neighborhoods.
To eliminate potential mosquito breeding grounds, empty out old tires, kids' swimming pools, toys, gutters, bird baths, buckets, wheel barrels, etc. that have been collecting water for some time. Change your pets' water daily. For residents with large farm animals and horses using water troughs or for yards with ponds, growth inhibitor treatment bricks can be purchased from IFA, or Magna Mosquito Abatement will provide them to place in the water. These bricks are safe for animals and friendly to bees, butterflies and even humans. The natural bacteria formula is developed to trick the mosquito larvae into thinking that it is an adult mosquito, thus never growing wings. Within a week or two it will change colors from brown to a sickly green and die.
- Remove standing water
- Keep yards clean
- Empty out old tire kids' swimming pool, toys , gutters, bird baths, buckets, wheel barrels, etc.
- Change your pets' water daily
- If you have large farm animals using a water trough, purchase growth inhibitor treatment bricks
Mosquitoes are most active between the hours of 8:30 p.m. -10 p.m. and extra protection may be needed to keep your family and pets from becoming the thirsty insects' meal. Most over-the-counter insect repellent will stave off most of the attacks, but take care to avoid your eyes when spraying.
If bitten by a mosquito, the best thing to do is to try not to scratch the affected skin for the first three hours. You can also use an anti-itch cream from the pharmacy, or try this home remedy of rolling anti-perspirant deodorant (regular deodorant won’t work) over the affected area.
Lusty's staff sprays the marshes and areas around the Salt Lake County Landfill but are limited when spraying neighborhoods because of a few concerns raised, but if residents notice an influx of mosquitoes around their homes or if there is an outbreak of West Nile virus, they will enter the neighborhoods affected.
Lusty, a University of Utah graduate, has worked for the Tooele Mosquito Abatement District for 10 years before applying for an opening in the Magna facility. He was able to work with his father, Evan Lusty (affectionately dubbed the "Magna Mosquito Terminator"), and advanced until he could fill his late father’s shoes. Lusty has one part-time staff member and eight seasonal workers who are fighting this summer’s wave of bloodthirsty insects.
As you are attempting to tuck your children into bed tonight, remember the unsung heroes of the Magna Mosquito Abatement District who are out protecting us from 8:30 p.m. to midnight, locating and killing as many mosquitoes as they can.
Sharon is a published author, freelance reporter and community leader who enjoys writing, substitute teaching in local area schools, watching her family grow and living on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley.
