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Taking the sting out of mosquito season

KELOWNA — Compared to other parts of Canada the Kelowna area doesn’t have many mosquitoes, but there are enough to the bloodthirsty pests to annoy people who like to spend time outdoors.

The Regional District of Central Okanagan is spending over $200,000 on its nuisance mosquito control program this year.

More than 300 sites in the district are being regularly visited by mosquito control teams.

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They use environmentally friendly pellets that release bacteria into mosquito breeding sites.  Mosquito larvae eat the bacteria, which kills them within hours.

BWP Mosquito Control is in charge of the control and monitoring program in the regional district.

The company says the worst will probably be over in 2 – 6 weeks, but some species of the annoying insect will continue to bite humans until late Augusts.

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BWP’s Cheryl Phippen says people should protect themselves by wearing mosquito repellant containing DEET and light coloured clothing with long sleeves and long pants, especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

There are at least 35 mosquito species in the Okanagan.  Not all of them target humans.

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