Mosquito spraying in Lenoir County will take place through Wednesday. The spraying could continue Thursday and Firday if rain or winds over 10 mph delay spraying operations earlier in the week.

Spraying will begin around 8 p.m. and end around 5:30 a.m. the following morning. Residents will be able to recognize the trucks involved with the spraying because they will have the Clegg’s Pest Control logo on the sides of the vehicles and a fogging machine in the back. The trucks travel at about 10 mph, and the fogging machines will sound like a loud riding lawnmower.

The county is providing maps to Clegg’s staff so areas that are environmentally sensitive or have beehives will not be sprayed. The trucks will not enter driveways. The spraying will target foliage near roadways, which serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Although the product being used in the fogging machines does not harm people, pets, plants or the environment, residents are asked to stay inside for 30 minutes if they see the trucks spraying in their area. For safety reasons, people should avoid being directly sprayed and should stay away from the trucks.

County residents can reduce the number of mosquitoes around their homes by getting rid of any standing water in trash cans, toys, gutters, rain pipes, plant saucers, tarps, boats or bottle caps. Some mosquitoes only need a small amount of water to breed.

According to Pamela Brown, Lenoir County Health Director, if residents are concerned about mosquito larvae, the health department has a limited supply of mosquito dunks available that people can toss into smaller areas of standing water to kill the mosquitoes before they become adults. These dunks are free of charge while supplies last.

For questions or concerns about the spraying, please call the Lenoir County Health Department at 252-526-4200. While supplies last, the mosquito dunks can be picked up between 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday at the health department, 201 N. McLewean St., Kinston.