During the summer, Abilenians may wonder if, like Pharaoh's Egypt, they are being plagued by swarms of insects. After the recent rains, mosquitoes have become an annoyance to anyone spending time outdoors. Fortunately, there are things to do to keep these bothersome pests at a distance. We have been working on larvae-watching in places like bar ditches, but citizens also need to look on their property to see if they have watering bowls or old tires that hold water and dump those out.
Water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The Abilene Health Department has a spraying program in effect, but it is not a thorough preventative measure. The pesticide only kills adult mosquitoes. If individuals have a mosquito problem in their neighborhood, they can call the health department at 692-5600, and city workers will come and spray their yard. There are also inexpensive pesticides, such as Malathion, that can be purchased at most any garden store. Abilene Pest Control personnel recommend that families spray their yard after each time it gets wet.