COLUMBIA, S.C. — As the summer-like heat settles over South Carolina, people in the Midlands are seeing increase in the population of an unwelcome pest: mosquitoes. Combined with heavy rains, the warm weather makes for ideal breeding conditions for these persistent pests.
"It's just a thing that is very common now in the United States and it has been for a long time," said Richard Blackmon, Columbia's chief code enforcement officer.
The city announced Monday they will begin spraying for adult mosquitoes from now through the end of the season. The decision came after some recent lab tests returned.
“The city only sprays when we have a positive test result for mosquito-borne illness,” said Blackmon, who helps enforce a variety of local ordinances related to property maintenance and nuisances in Columbia. "We got an alert from DHEC that some of the mosquitoes that were collected showed a positive test result, so that's why we are spraying."
While that may sound a little concerning, Blackmon said this is relatively normal. "This is West Nile," he said. "This is really common this time of year when we collect mosquitoes because it's a good indicator for what may come down the pike."
"We don't just wholesale spray," he went on to say. "We just do it as a response when we get an alert from the state," Blackmon specified.
But having the city spray isn't the only way to minimize mosquitoes from lurking in your yard. "Anything you can do to eliminate standing water is the biggest thing. You know, people have boats with tarps on them, and those will hold water. Even though we have so many magnolia trees, the leaves are excellent breeding sites for mosquitoes. The leaves will turn the wrong way, and they will fill up with water, and it only takes a water bottle cap for them to breed."
Blackmon added that trimming your grass and using bug repellent are also great ways to keep mosquitoes from thriving in your yard. "If everyone takes care of their property, I guarantee you we will see a reduction in the mosquito population," he concluded.
If you are having issues with a rise in mosquito activity near your home, the City of Columbia recommends checking for still water in rain barrels, clogged gutters, or water pots that could be attracting them before contacting them for help.