Mosquito control reports aerial larvicide applications, surveillance numbers and free spotted‑lanternfly traps for residents

The Sussex County Office of Mosquito Control gave a detailed operational update at the May 14 Board of County Commissioners meeting, reporting recent aerial larvicide treatments, surveillance totals and a continuing spotted‑lanternfly trap distribution.

The office said the county received more than seven inches of rain since April, prompting two aerial applications to treat larval mosquito habitat: an application covering 1,640 acres on April 17 and 891 acres treated on May 7. The department warned residents to anticipate increased mosquito populations in the coming weeks due to rainfall and warmer temperatures.

Nut graf: The mosquito program provided inspection and trap statistics and public‑service guidance, and announced free spotted‑lanternfly traps for county residents available by appointment from the mosquito office.

Operational totals provided in open session included 483 water samples with 7,295 mosquito larvae identified to species, 232 adult‑mosquito traps yielding 2,082 adult mosquitoes identified to species, 707 inspections of larval sites and 225 hand and backpack treatments since April. The office has received 26 resident complaints in 2025 to date.

The office said spotted‑lanternfly traps are available for pickup Monday–Friday at the mosquito office, and residents should call (973) 940‑5225 to arrange pickup. Disease surveillance testing for mosquitoes was scheduled to begin May 19, with results to be posted weekly on the county website.

Discussion vs. decision: The update was informational; residents were given contact information for service requests and trap pickup locations. No new program budget or regulatory measures were adopted in open session during the report.

Ending: The office encouraged residents to request on‑site service for high mosquito populations and to check the county website for weekly disease‑surveillance updates.