As we draw closer to mosquito season, a Steinbach city councillor wants to make sure everything possible is being done to keep the pests to a minimum. Michael Zwaagstra says there is some new research on larviciding, pertaining to mosquitoes that transmit the West Nile virus.

"It's a research study that shows that a significant percentage of the Culex Tarsalis mosquitoes do not lay their eggs on the surface of the water but rather lay their eggs in the boggy areas nearby the water. And, of course, that affects larviciding because normally larviciding goes directly on the water. And so I thought it was appropriate to request that the province clarify its guidelines in regards to larviciding because we want to make sure that the larviciding is as effective as possible. We want to make sure that we reduce the number of mosquitoes of all sorts so that way we can all enjoy our summers."

Steinbach Chief Administrative Officer Troy Warkentin says the city follows provincial health guidelines on larviciding. City council has instructed him to ask the Health Department whether revised guidelines will be issued, taking into account the new research. Warkentin notes larviciding is slated to begin in early May.

Meanwhile, Zwaagstra says he would like to lower the threshold for the number of mosquitoes that would trigger fogging. The city's policy currently requires 300 mosquitoes per trap on two consecutive nights before fogging will take place. But he adds it continues to be a challenge to convince his colleagues to lower that number.

"I frankly think that it would be appropriate to put it at a lower level but, of course, that's a discussion that council's had in the past and there've been divided votes on this. But I to hold to the position that we need to follow the example of other municipalities in our province and be prepared to use whatever measures we need to do to control the mosquito population."