In response to complaints about mosquitoes in the Guinea Circle area of lower Gloucester, the county’s mosquito control crew has been spraying aggressively in that area.

Wes McIntyre, who heads the county’s mosquito control program, said Oct. 25 that York District Supervisor Phillip Bazzani requested a mosquito control update at the supervisors’ Oct. 18 meeting. McIntyre reported that recent counts on Guinea Circle area showed lots of mosquitoes in that area and he has assigned crews there on multiple occasions.

Some residents have been calling his office to complain about the presence of mosquitoes, especially on Guinea Circle and other areas close to waterways, McIntyre said.

All of the mosquito control districts are regularly checked by landing counts by the control drivers and by traps. When warranted, spraying is utilized. The county has two spray trucks and two part-time drivers.

There has been ample rain for much of this season, resulting in spikes in the mosquito population, McIntyre said.

“We are very responsive, this is old school,” McIntyre said of spraying when the insect numbers warrant.

The crews have also been hindered on some nights by winds, with a 10 mph threshold the usual standard.

McIntyre, Gloucester’s director of buildings and grounds, said that he started the mosquito control season with larvicide briquettes placed in many ditches, followed by spray of the chemical compound Duet.

More residents are being proactive and getting involved in the mosquito control process, McIntyre said, ridding their property of mosquitoes by eliminating standing water in buckets, boats, pet dishes and other containers on a regular basis.

But things can be improved, McIntyre said, and he plans to launch a public education effort to help better control mosquitoes next year.

To let residents know where crews will be spraying each night, Gloucester has a hotline in place; call 804-824-2530.

Mosquito control is offered in most of Abingdon District east of Route 17, most of York District east of Route 17, and subdivisions in Gloucester Point District: Powhatan Chimney, Dunlap Woods, York River Pines, Chiskiake Village and York Shores. Those residents pay an ad valorem tax of 1 cent per $100 of assessed property value.