Community Corner

What Does Mosquito Spraying Mean for My Garden? Honey Bees?

Here are some tips for preparing for mosquito spraying in Salem.

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Now that it has been determined that local mosquitoes are carrying the West Nile Virus, Northeast Mosquito Control will be spraying  South Salem Wednesday night and city residents who live within 1,500 feet of the border of the spray area are being encouraged to avoid exposure to pesticide.

Here are some quick pointers - stay indoors, keep your windows closed, and turn off window fans Wednesday night. If your air conditioner has a fresh air intake feature, you may want to shut off the intake during the spraying.

  • Keep pets indoors when spraying is occurring in your immediate area.
  • If skin or clothes or other items are come into contact with sprayed pesticide, wash with soap and water. If the spray gets in your eyes, immediately rinse them with water or eye drops, and call your doctor.
  • If you have a small ornamental fish pond, you may want to cover it during the night of spraying.
  • Following the spray, rinse with water any homegrown fruits and vegetables that may have been sprayed.
The pesticide being used is Duet, which has been approved for spraying use by the EPA and the Massachusetts Bureau of Pesticides. Sumithrin, the active ingredient in Duet, poses no significant risk to people or pets. Duet is designed to quickly attract and knockout mosquitoes and then quickly dissipate. 

The pesticide will be sprayed into the air, not onto the ground. As a precaution, Mosquito Control will shut off the spray if people or pets are directly abutting the truck.

We've already received some emails from users who are worried about tomatoes, honey bees and their pets. What are your concerns? 

Let us know in the comments section below. 

Please visit Northeast Mosquito Control at  and theDepartment of Public Health for more information and updates. 

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