Town of Westerly Set to Spray Mosquito Larvicide at Chapman Swamp

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Town of Westerly Set to Spray Mosquito Larvicide at Chapman Swamp

Town of Westerly set to spray mosquito larvicide at Chapman Swamp
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced that the Town of Westerly will start aerial application of mosquito larvicide across 500 acres of Chapman Swamp.

The spraying will take place on Wednesday, April 10 between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Rain dates are Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 12.

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Mosquito Larvicide Spraying

Bti, a naturally-occurring bacterium applied in granular form to control mosquito breeding in swamps and other breeding habitats, will be applied.

It is an environmentally friendly product and does not pose a risk to human health. 

Larviciding is recommended as part of the state’s action plan for West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and considered an effective strategy to reduce mosquito populations and related disease risk. 

In the Chapman Swamp area, aerial application is recommended because of its remote location and large footprint.

Mosquitoes carrying the EEE virus were found in Chapman Swamp in 1996, 2003, 2013, and 2016.

Since 1997, the Town has applied Bti annually to help control mosquito breeding.

Additional dates for spraying may be scheduled by the Town; the targeted areas include portions of Chapman Swamp and swampland near Hespar Drive.


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