Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will begin its annual spraying of spring woodland pools to control aquatic immature mosquitoes as early as Wednesday.

Spraying by the Mosquito Control Section will begin in south Sussex County, then expand into Kent and New Castle over the next several weeks. Controlling these larval mosquitoes limits the emergence of biting adult mosquitoes later in the spring.

Up to 10,000 acres of wet woodlands near select populated areas will be treated with a helicopter applying the bacteria-derived insecticide BTI. As with all insecticides used by the Mosquito Control Section, BTI has been determined by the Environmental Protection Agency to pose no unreasonable risks to human health, wildlife or the environment when applied in accordance with product label instructions, as required by federal law.

This campaign marks the beginning of Delaware’s mosquito control season, which, in most years, continues until late October or early November.

Starting in April, spraying will expand to larval and adult salt marsh mosquitoes, other freshwater mosquitoes, and urban and suburban container-breeding mosquitoes.

Locations and times for spraying activity can be found by calling 800-338-8181.

Announcements can also be received by email, text or voicemail by subscribing to Mosquito Control’s Spray Zone Notification System at de.gov/mosquitospray.

To request mosquito control service, call the following offices:

• The Glasgow facility at 302-836-2555, serving New Castle County and the northern half of Kent County, including Dover.
• The Milford facility at 302-422-1512, serving the southern half of Kent County, south of Dover, and all of Sussex.

For information, visit de.gov/mosquito.