COLUMBUS – It’s not your imagination. You are swatting at a lot more mosquitoes this year. In fact, about twice as many compared to this time last year.
READ MORE: In the Columbus Dispatch
So far, about 66,000 mosquitoes have been caught in traps across Franklin County this year. At this time last year, health officials counted 33,000, said Charlie Broschart, environmental health division manager with Franklin County Public Health.
And those are just Culex pipiens mosquitoes, a species that carries the West Nile virus and thrives in these warm summer months.
“They have a tendency to flourish during this time,” Broschart said.
Columbus Public Health also traps mosquitoes and on Friday found one carrying the virus from a pool on the South Side, said Jose Rodriguez, a spokesman for the agency.
It is the second pool in which West Nile has been found. The city sprays for mosquitoes in those areas.
In all, Franklin County health officials have collected nearly 79,000 mosquitoes in 50 traps. Those mosquitoes represent 15 species, most of which are simply biting pests.
Health officials say residents should wear insect repellant containing DEET, limit outdoor activity at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, and eliminate all standing water around your home where mosquitoes breed.
There are many more non-Culex species around, but health departments target the West Nile carrier with spraying efforts this week:
Franklin County crews will spray daily beginning at 8:30 p.m.:
Click here for maps of areas to be sprayed.
Tuesday, August 4
Hilliard Central (due to high mosquito counts)
Grove City North (due to high mosquito counts)
Urbancrest (due to high mosquito counts)
Sharon Township North (due to West Nile virus positive mosquitoes)
Perry Township North (due to West Nile virus positive mosquitoes)
Perry Township South (due to high mosquito counts)
Wednesday, August 5 (All spraying for Wednesday is due to West Nile virus positive mosquitoes)
New Albany
Plain Township
Gahanna West
Thursday, August 6
Upper Arlington North (due to West Nile virus positive mosquitoes)
Westerville West (due to high mosquito counts)
Columbus Public Health crews will spray between the hours of 4:00 and 7:00 a.m.
Click here to see map
Tuesday August 4:
Far West: (North Boundary – Saucony Dr., East Boundary – Hilliard-Rome Rd., South Boundary – Renner Rd., West Boundary – Spindler Rd.)
Southwest Columbus: (North Boundary – Sullivant Ave., East Boundary – Norton Rd., South Boundary – Hall Rd., West Boundary – Brave Dr.)
Wednesday August 5:
Southwest Columbus: (North Boundary – Georgesville Rd., East Boundary – I-270, South Boundary – Big Run South Rd., West Boundary – Bukey Rd.)
West Columbus: (North Boundary – Sullivant Ave., East Boundary – Binns Blvd., South Boundary – Briggs Rd., West Boundary – Holly Hill Dr.)
West Columbus: (North Boundary – Trabue Rd., East Boundary – McKinley Ave., South Boundary – I-70, West Boundary – N Wilson Rd.)
Westgate: (North Boundary – W Broad St., East Boundary – Hague Ave., South Boundary – Sullivant Ave., West Boundary – S Wilson Rd.)
Thursday August 6:
Far South: (North Boundary – I-270, East Boundary – Parsons Ave., South Boundary – Kerr St., West Boundary – S High St.)
Near East: (North Boundary – E Broad St., East Boundary – Westland Ave., South Boundary – I-70 West Boundary – Miller Ave.)
Near East: (North Boundary – I-70, East Boundary – N Champion Ave., South Boundary – E Broad St., West Boundary – I-71)
Near North: (North Boundary – Fifth Ave., East Boundary – Cleveland Ave., South Boundary – I-670, West Boundary – SR-315)
Friday August 7:
Far East: (North Boundary – Refugee Rd., East Boundary – Gender Rd., South Boundary – Blacklick Creek, West Boundary – Reynard Rd.)
Far East: (North Boundary – Tussing Rd., East Boundary – Turnberry Golf Course, South Boundary – Refugee Rd., West Boundary – Fayburrow Dr.)
Near South: (North Boundary – Thurman Ave., East Boundary – Parsons Ave., South Boundary – Barthman Ave., West Boundary – Scioto River)
Southeast Columbus: (North Boundary – Blacklick Creek, East Boundary – Brice Rd., South Boundary – Winchester Pike, West Boundary – Ebright Rd.)