Show All Answers

1. Are the chemicals used in the spray trucks harmful?

No, not when used properly. The chemicals we use are approved by both the Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry for control of insect pests. The chemicals can be harmful to some fish species such as koi and goldfish. For more information you can contact our department’s biologists or night spray supervisor.

2. Is the spray safe to breathe?

The very small concentrations used, about .007 pounds per acre, will not cause adverse effects for most people. Persons who have severe allergies should avoid the spray however. And you shouldn’t run or follow behind the spray truck, as this would increase your exposure.

3. Why does one area of the parish get sprayed more often than the others?

One area may get sprayed more often if we determine from our surveillance activities that either large numbers of mosquitoes are present, or that disease has been detected in that area in either bird, mosquito or human populations.

4. Why do you spray my neighborhood in the evening when everyone is out in the yard or jogging?

We spray in the evening because research has demonstrated that this the time when mosquito flight activity is greatest. It is much easier to kill mosquitoes by contact with the insecticides when they are flying.

5. I raise honeybees. How can I prevent the spray truck treatments from affecting my colony?

You can contact our office and tell the Night Spray Supervisor your colony’s location. He will map that area specifically as a no spray zone.

6. How secure are your spray trucks?

Our entire compound is fenced and locked. The spray trucks are also kept in a locked bay at night.

7. How late do the spray trucks operate?

The spray truck operations are typically run until 11 p.m.

8. I don’t see any spray coming from the truck. Are you applying insecticides in my neighborhood?

Yes, but the spray truck driver may drive without the sprayer in operation so that he can position the unit in such a way to prevent a double application on your street. Also the spray cloud maybe hard to see because the spray consists of a number of very small droplets that are almost clear.