The East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project is planning to use truck-mounted aerosol sprayers in Reading on Thursday, June 30th between dusk and 11:30 PM. Areas to be sprayed include streets in the vicinity of Van Norden Rd., Forest St., William Rd., Grove St., High St., and Lowell St. Spraying will also be done near West St. between Winslow Rd. and the Wilmington border and by Summer Ave. between King St. and Willow St. If spraying is postponed, it will be rescheduled for Tuesday, July 5th.
The project uses a spray formulation containing the pesticide product, Anvil, to control mosquitoes. Anvil contains the pesticide, Sumithrin, which is a pyrethroid that is classified as a slightly toxic pesticide by the EPA. Mosquito control applications of sumithrin do not pose a significant risk to people or their pets due to the low toxicity of sumithrin and the small amount used to control mosquitoes. As with any pesticide, people should minimize exposure. If residents see a spray truck approaching, they are advised to go indoors for a couple of minutes while the spray dissipates. Residents are also advised to close windows facing the street. Beekeepers do not need to take any special precautions since spraying begins after dusk.
Information on the spray schedule is available via a recorded message at 781- 893-5759 and at the project web site at https://sudbury.ma.us/emmcp/ Questions related to spraying or questions on mosquitoes can be answered by calling the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project at 781- 899-5730.
