Beaufort County Mosquito Control brings hands-on library events for National Mosquito Control Awareness Week

Khloe G, host of the Beaufort County Report, interviewed Robert Carter of Beaufort County Mosquito Control about outreach activities the team held at a local library branch this week as part of National Mosquito Control Awareness Week.

Carter said the county set up microscopes, specimens and interactive displays tied into children's story time to explain mosquito body parts, life cycles and how some species can transmit disease. "We've been having kids come in for story time," Carter said. "We brought some equipment in and we brought some mosquitoes. We brought some microscopes and lots of things for the kids to see so we can talk a little bit about what mosquito control does in Beaufort County and throughout the nation."

The team distributed goodie bags containing activities, color-changing pencils, crayons, magnetic bookmarks and a plantable bookmark that can grow basil, chives and parsley. Carter said children also received illustrated books that explain mosquito and tick biology and neighborhood prevention steps. "This one actually talks about mosquitoes and ticks," he said, and another book focuses on storm drains and why they attract breeding mosquitoes.

Carter highlighted storm drains as a breeding habitat for species capable of carrying West Nile virus because drains can hold water with organic matter. "Lots of mosquitoes, especially species that can transmit West Nile virus, like to breed in storm drains because there's lots of water with organic matter," he said.

He announced additional appearances during the week: a Friday event at the Hilton Head branch and a Saturday event at the Port Royal branch (the Port Royal event at 11 a.m.; the other events at 2 p.m.). Carter said the books used were produced for the Fairfax County Health Department and that mosquito-control programs often share vetted educational materials and can customize them with local logos.

Beyond education, Carter urged residents to check outdoor containers after rainfall and remove standing water. "If it's too heavy, you can go online and put in a service request and our technicians will come out and either they'll help dump things out. They'll do an inspection for you. They can go put out larvicide in places that are too big to dump out or if you've got some ditches that are breeding mosquito larvae," he said.

Khloe G closed the segment by thanking Carter for the visit and reminding viewers to check the Beaufort County Mosquito Control website for more information and upcoming outreach dates.

The outreach was presented as an educational effort; no formal policy or funding action was discussed during the segment.