Starting today, the City of Perry is beginning their flying pest mitigation efforts, and the public is reminded to do their part.

City crews will spray for mosquitoes every Thursday evening through the end of summer, weather permitting. In case of rain on Thursdays, the spraying will be done Friday or Saturday evening instead. Public Works Director Jack Butler reminds residents that the sprayer they use is silent, unlike their old machine, so people will likely not know when spraying is being done in their neighborhood. However, he assures people that the job is being done and notes that it may take some time for the spraying to catch up to the bug population.

Butler also advises citizens to do their part to curb the mosquito infestation, which is as easy as ensuring there is no standing water around your residence. He says to drain anything where water can pool, such as planters, buckets, barrels, gutters, and tires, among other things. It takes 10 days for mosquito eggs to hatch in standing water, so as long as it’s cleared within a week, Butler says that should do the trick. If there are any spots that can’t be drained, City crews can treat the area with a chemical that will keep the larvae from maturing.

Residents are also reminded to wear bug repellent when outdoors for extended periods, particularly in the early morning and around sundown when mosquitoes are most active. Anyone with questions can contact Perry City Hall at 515-465-2481.