Mosquito Control

If you have a mosquito problem at home, or just want to ask a few questions, please call the Chapel Hill Mosquito Control Officer (MCO) at (919) 968-2796. The MCO will answer any questions you might have about mosquitoes and how to control them.

The Chapel Hill Mosquito Control Officer (MCO) will visit and meet with you if you request a site visit. On-site, the MCO will evaluate and make recommendations that should reduce, prevent or solve mosquito problems. The visit and advice are free of charge.

The majority of mosquito problems around the house can be traced to small containers that hold water for at least one week. Old bottles, cups, flowerpot water trays, birdbaths, tree holes and old tires are very good locations for mosquitoes to breed. Leaf-filled gutters are also particularly good places for mosquitoes to breed.

1. Throw away old bottles, cans and plastic containers.
2. Clean leaf-filled gutters to allow proper drainage.
3. Turn buckets, baby pools, boats and other outside containers upside down when they are not in use.
4. Change the water in birdbaths, ornamental ponds and fountains at least once a week.
5. Screen or cover rain barrels, garbage cans and other large containers.  Screen open ends of corrugated plastic drainage pipes.
6. Properly dispose of or destroy old and used tires.
7. Fill in tree holes with plaster of paris.
8. Empty water from small outside containers such as flowerpot dishes.
9. Repair leaky water faucets, water hoses and air conditioners.
10. Clean overgrown ponds and stock them with fish.

Remember: Mosquitoes need water to stand for five to ten days to breed, so first try to reduce the number of areas where water may collect and then to reduce the length of time water will sit.

No. The Town uses a biological larvicide called “Bactimos” to treat mosquito breeding grounds that contain mosquito larvae. Bactimos contains the spores of the soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (or Bti for short). Mosquito larvae eat the bacteria and die when the bacteria’s enzymes destroy the mosquito larvae; however, Bti does not affect humans, fish, plants or other aquatic wildlife.

The Town does not treat private property; however, the Town can and does treat public parks and recreation facilities and other open space areas owned by the Town of Chapel Hill.

Homeowners can obtain Bti products like “mosquito dunks” at home improvement or hardware stores.

Contact the Chapel Hill Public Works Mosquito Control Officer (MCO):

Telephone: (919) 968-2796

Email: mosquito@townofchapelhill.org

The MCO will make every effort to respond to your questions; since the MCO is a part-time employee, however, phone messages and emails may not be checked daily.

For other mosquito information call NC DENR Public Health Pest Management Section at (919) 733-6407.

• NC DENR Public Health Pest Management: Brochures, health issues and other general information on pest management for the State of North Carolina.
• US EPA Mosquitoes - How to Control Them: Biology and control information.
• Mosquito Bytes: Everything you ever wanted to know about mosquitoes.
• New Jersey Mosquito - Biology and Control: Biology and control information as well as FAQ page.
• American Mosquito Control Association: General control information and links to other mosquito control programs.
• National Safety Council - West Nile Virus Fact Sheet: Information on West Nile virus and mosquito control.

Links to the outside information sources listed above are provided as a courtesy only. The Town of Chapel Hill is not responsible for the information they contain. These links do not represent or imply the endorsement of the policies and/or products of the outside agencies or organizations in question.