In Cook County Bartlett

The Northwest Mosquito Abatement District (NWMAD), 847-537-2306, a separate taxing district, provides mosquito abatement services to northwest Cook County, including portions of Bartlett. Visit the website for more information, to see a night spray schedule and to report standing water, Northwest Mosquito Abatement District.

In DuPage County Bartlett 

The Village of Bartlett contracts with Clarke Mosquito, 800-942-2555, to provide mosquito abatement services in the DuPage portion of Bartlett. Clarke maintains a call list to inform residents when spraying will occur. To be placed on this list, please call Clarke, 800-942-2555. For more information you can visit Clarke Mosquito Control on the web.

Multi-Step Process to Control Mosquitoes

Both Clarke and NWMAD use a multi-step program to manage the mosquito population.

1. ID Breeding Sites by Mapping - The first part of the program is aimed at identifying mosquito breeding sites. Drainage ditches, swamps, and areas of low or standing water are mapped. The objective of this step is to define, categorize and measure the total number of larval development sites.

2. Surveillance & Monitoring of the Mosquito Population - the distribution and density of mosquito species in proximity to human populations are defined in order to control the threat of disease or nuisance. Brood prevention methods combined with the use of light traps measure mosquito population levels and prevent major infestations.

3. Control of Larvae - Breeding sites are treated to prevent the development of adult mosquitoes. The larvicides used kill mosquito larva, preventing their maturation into adult mosquitoes. According to Clarke, the larvicides used degrade rapidly, leaving no accumulation in the soil, water, or air.

4. Adult Mosquito Control - The final step in Bartlett’s mosquito control program involves the control of adult mosquito populations. When the nuisance factor becomes excessive or there is a health alert, such as after a heavy rainfall, cold aerosol misting may be used to reduce the adult mosquito population. The decision to spray is dependent upon the population of mosquitoes, as determined by light traps, and by resident complaints. There is no regular schedule for spraying.

Additional Information about Fogging/Misting/Spraying for Mosquitoes 
* How long does the fog kill mosquitoes? During the fogging, flying mosquitoes within the treated area are killed. Although the local mosquito population is reduced for a few days, fogging does not prevent mosquitoes from re-entering the area.

* If the city has been fogged for mosquitoes, are all mosquitoes in my area eliminated? Fogging will kill only part of the mosquitoes in your area for a few days. Consequently, individuals should always use personal protection when mosquitoes are present.

More Tips from DuPage County Health Department

To help DuPage County residents protect themselves against West Nile virus (WNV), the DuPage County Health Department has created a Personal Protection Index (PPI) that will inform residents of the amount of WNV activity in the county, as well as prevention steps that are recommended.

The PPI provides residents with a current snapshot of WNV activity, ranging from zero to four, with zero being no activity and four announcing multiple human cases of WNV in DuPage County. The PPI will be updated every Wednesday at 3 p.m., by Health Department staff, during the surveillance season.

Learn more about DuPage County's program, "Fight the Bite," at www.dupagehealth.org/ftb

West Nile Virus

To check for West Nile Virus updates and get additional information for other parts of Illinois, visit the Illinois Department of Health's West Nile Virus web page

Zika Virus

Although Illinois is not in a high risk zone for mosquitoes that transmit the Zika virus, in recent years, public and private entities in Illinois and other states have been conducting  surveillance for potential Zika vectors (Asian Tiger Mosquito) locally.

Unlike most of the mosquito outbreaks in recent years, the Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes that prefer to bite during daytime hours, are container-breeders and harbor indoors. Traditional adult mosquito control, customarily done between dusk and dawn, may need to be modified.  Treatments conducted an hour before sunset, or the hour after sunrise will provide greater opportunity for control.

There are two species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus that to the best of current knowledge are the only species capable of actively vectoring or transmitting the Zika virus. Both Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus like to lay eggs in very small amounts of water. That is how they earned their 'container breeder' nickname - you can find their eggs in items as small as a bottle cap. They love standing water, therefore any type of container is a potential breeding site, e.g. trays of flower pots, bird baths, standing water in gutters, downspout drains, uncovered rain barrels, still ponds, junk piles.

They also like to live in residential areas and bite during the day . . . just the opposite of the night-biting mosqutioes that can carry West Nile virus. In fact, Aedes aegypti prefer to rest inside at night. Leave your garage door up? That's a wide open invitation to Ae. aegypti. Carports, sheds and other out buildings are all desired resting spots too.

If you live in an area where Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus are found, you need to do your part to keep your property free of potential breeding sites. Remember - these species like to lay eggs in as little as a teaspoon of water and can hatch in just 3 to 4 days. Every few days residents should check their yards for places where water can collect and provide potential breeding sites for mosquitoes: flower pot trays; planter boxes; kiddie pools; sandbox and yard toys; wheel barrows; watering cans; boat & pool covers.