Mosquitos, Ticks & Pests

  1. Mosquitos
  2. Ticks
  3. Bed Bugs

Mosquitos in Massachusetts

West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE or "Triple E") are viruses that occur in Massachusetts and can cause illness ranging from a mild fever to more serious disease like encephalitis or meningitis. There are other diseases spread by mosquitoes that people may be exposed to when traveling in other regions of the world. These include Zika virus, Dengue fever, and Chikungunya.

Learn how to protect yourself from Illness  Commonwealth of Massachusetts website)

  • Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient (DEET (N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or IR3535) according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.
  • Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools and change the water in birdbaths frequently.
  • Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly fitting screens on all your windows and doors.
  • Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning in areas of high risk.

The following recommendations from the State are to help protect animals from mosquito-borne illness:

Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent WNV and EEE. If an animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795, and to the Department of Public Health by calling 617-983-6800.

Resources

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Mosquito Control - Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control (NEMMC)

Amesbury has a contract with Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control for mosquito monitoring (breeding grounds, standing water) and spraying.

Services

As part of Amesbury's contract with NEMMC, property owners can request services to help control mosquito populations on your property.

  • Tire Removal
  • Larvaciding (check water for larvae)
  • Adulticiding (spray adult mosquitoes)

Fill out this survey to request services from NEMMC

How to Request an Exclusion or Opt-out from Wide Area Pesticide Applications:

If it is deemed necessary by the Amesbury Board of Health, localized or city-wide spraying my be requested through NEMMC. Spraying notifications will be posted on the city website, on Facebook, and will be sent out on Smart 911. Be sure to sign up for Smart 911 to receive advance notification.  

Exclusion requests may be submitted at any time during the year and will go into effect 14 days from the date the request is made. All requests will expire December 31st in the calendar year in which they are received.

Frequently Asked Questions


For updated  FAQ's on town-wide or targeted adulticide treatment, pesticide products used, and residential requests, visit the Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control website.