Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Wisconsin’s State Bird…the Mosquito!

I realize the week of Christmas is a strange time to talk about mosquitoes. But, as a result of the 2010 mosquito plague, Smokey, OGC's Shop & Equipment Manager, and I have developed our very own mosquito fogger.

A large area commercial fogger can cost $5,000 plus. For only $125, we purchased a 10-gal chemical spray tank and a low volume misting nozzle. This setup was adapted to fit one of our pull behind blowers. During operation, the chemical tank and nozzle will dispense a very fine mist at a rate of 12 oz per min into a high volume flow of air from the blower. The blower will atomize and disperse the mosquito insecticide upwards 20-30+ feet. The versatility of the blower will allow the applicator to tilt and direct the fogging mist into trees or other areas prone to high mosquito concentrations. We are excited to see this creation successfully impact the 2011 mosquito population. However, please understand that fogging is only a temporary relief. Only periods of high mosquito activity will be targeted for fogging.