Mosquito Abatement

Mosquito Abatement Program

The Village of Gurnee has contracted with Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management Inc. to carry out community-wide mosquito control and abatement programs throughout the summer and early fall months. Spraying does not pose a risk to residents; however, those who are sensitive to odors or have chemical sensitivities may want to keep their windows and doors closed on spray dates. If you have questions regarding the Mosquito Abatement Program or the materials used, please contact Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management Inc. directly at 1-800-942-2555.  

Clarke Mosquito Management is a long established firm, having served many communities in the area for over 40 years. The services provided to the Village of Gurnee area based on an integrated pest management approach to control mosquitoes, which includes larvae control and adult spraying.

If you have questions regarding these services or would like to report areas of severe biting, please contact the Mosquito Hotline at 1-800-942-2555.

Goals and Objectives

• To abate existing mosquito breeding sources
• To prevent new breeding sites so you can fully use and enjoy your backyard and other municipal recreational facilities
• To protect public health and comfort

Breeding sources we control are created by standing water, which may be found in street catch-basins, subdivision drains, roadside ditches, flood channels, ravines and other public rights-of-way. Routine larviciding, done as necessary throughout the season, will keep these areas mosquito free.

It is our responsibility to work with whatever local, state, or federal agencies may be involved to keep these areas abated.

Following the last community-wide mosquito adulticiding treatment, the Village received a few calls from residents concerned about the speed of the vehicles conducting the treatment. The residents stated the vehicles appeared to be traveling faster than previous treatments and worried this would impact effectiveness. Residents should be aware that the technology in Clarke’s vehicles eliminates the old theory 'slower means better.' The equipment in the treatment fleet allows the sprayer to vary its chemical output based on the speed of the vehicle, providing the correct amount of insecticide per acre at any speed from 2 to 24 MPH. This allows the Village to receive the correct amount of mosquitocide (not under or over applying) during treatments even as the truck turns a corner or slows to come to a stop. At speeds over 24 MPH the onboard technology shuts the spray off automatically and sets off an alarm to notify the driver and the supervisor. This allows Clarke to provide the most accurate application rate and effectiveness during treatments.

Property Owner Participation

• To clear your property of any potential breeding sites
• To prevent any problem areas from reocurring

Mosquitoes are an all too familiar summer nuisance. They are not only annoying, but they can be transmitters of encephalitis, malaria and yellow fever to humans, and heartworm to pets.

You can take simple, positive steps to reduce this menace right at home, since many generations of mosquitoes can breed right in your own yard.

Yard & Home Checklist

• Get rid of old tires, tin cans, buckets, drums, bottles or any water holding containers
• Fill in or drain any low places (puddles, ruts) in yard
• Keep drains, ditches and culverts clean of weeds and trash so water will drain properly
• Cover trash containers to keep out rain water
• Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets
• Empty plastic wading pool at least once a week and store it indoors when not in use
• Make sure your backyard pool is properly cared for while on vacation
• Fill in tree rot hole and hollow stumps that hold water with sand or concrete
• Change the water in bird baths and plant pots or drip trays at least once each week
• Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well trimmed around the house so adult mosquitoes will not hide there

Standing water means you could be raising mosquitoes!

Adult flying mosquitoes often rest in tall grass and shrubbery, but they cannot develop there. All mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle.

Some mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water where they hatch in just a day or two. Other mosquitoes may lay their eggs in old tires, tin cans, or other water-holding containers. The eggs may remain unhatched for weeks or even months until they are covered with water!

So, after any significant rainfall remember to remove any standing water from your yard and help keep mosquitoes from hatching.

Portions courtesy of

Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management
159 Garden Avenue
Roselle, IL 60172