Mosquito spraying in Houston is in full swing. Here’s how it works.

Summer is here and Houstonians are ready to get outside. Unfortunately, it is outside that millions of mosquitoes await us.

Mosquito trucks and planes have already begun spraying mosquitoes in the Houston area. With so many biting pests, it may seem like no amount of spraying really makes a difference, but experts in Houston and Texas said it’s a crucial part of mosquito prevention.

There are 88 different species of mosquitoes in Texas, and according to Harris County Public Health, 56 of those species are found in the Houston area.

“We’re coming out of winter for spring and summer, so we always see more at this time of year,” said Sonja Swiger, of the department of entomology at Texas A&M University and a specialist in extension at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. “But, with all the rain we’ve had, we’re seeing a lot more than last year at this time.”

However, Swiger said, not all mosquito species carry disease.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control, the Culex mosquito, also known as the common house mosquito, is the primary transmitter of West Nile virus. It is more active at night. The Aedes albopictus mosquito is a transmitter of the Zika virus and is most active in the morning and at dusk.

Here’s what you need to know about mosquito spraying.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, planes and helicopters can treat very large areas with larvicides to kill larvae or adulticides to kill adult mosquitoes.

“(Aerial spraying) covers a larger area and you get a lot more treatment than trucks,” Swiger said. “They can go over the canopy and down to where the mosquitoes are.”

According to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, a single twin-engine plane can treat 40,000 acres in one night, an area that would require about 40 trucks on the ground.

Aerial spraying uses low volumes of adulticide or larvicide in areas where mosquitoes are present.

Spraying larvicides kills mosquito larvae that hatch from eggs, and spraying adulticides quickly kills flying mosquitoes. Although larvicides and adulticides temporarily reduce the number of mosquitoes in an area, they will not eliminate them permanently.

Galveston County officials are using aerial spraying to target mosquitoes. According to the county website, aerial spraying took place Tuesday and is planned for Wednesday.

“Recent heavy rains have significantly increased mosquito populations across the county. We are working to spray all areas of Galveston County,” officials said.

Many counties, including Montgomery, Harris, Fort Bend and Galveston, monitor both nuisance mosquitoes and mosquitoes that can spread viruses. Most counties and cities like Houston and Conroe have started spraying regularly.

Swiger said truck spraying is more common in most areas.

“Many (counties) are doing truck spraying,” Swiger said. “This is the only way to control the adult stages of mosquitoes. This is a very important, integral part of mosquito management.

Swiger said that when adulticides and larvicides are applied by a licensed vector control professional who follows label directions, aerial spraying poses minimal risk to people, pets, animals and the environment. .

Because aerial spraying uses very low volumes of adulticide or larvicide, people are not likely to breathe or touch anything that contains enough insecticide to harm them. It is possible that spraying larvicides or adulticides could cause eye irritation if a person is outside at the time of spraying.

However, she added, staying indoors while spraying is the best option.

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“We never want to say never,” Swiger said of reactions to pesticides. “Some people are more sensitive to a product than others.”

Spraying against mosquitoes is done in the evening to minimize the effects, including for bees.

According to the Texas Department of Social and Health Services, spraying typically begins at dusk, when mosquitoes are most active and after bees return to the hive for the night. Insecticides dissipate and break down quickly in the environment. When bees emerge into daylight, they are unaffected. Many beekeepers choose to cover their colonies to ensure they are not affected, ministry officials said.

What if you want or need to be outside, even as swarms explode in Houston? Swiger said there are things residents can do to help reduce mosquito populations around their homes and protect their families.

Residents should dump standing water around their homes and businesses and apply a commercially available larvicide to water that cannot be drained.

“If you’re going to be outside for a long time, wear repellent,” Swiger said. “We always recommend long sleeves and pants. If you have young children, don’t take them outside when mosquitoes are most active.

Additionally, Swiger said it’s important to make sure window and door screens are in good condition to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes.