Just a Teaspoon of Water Provides Proper Mosquito Breeding Environment
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (April, 2004) - With spring well underway, many backyard gardeners are returning outdoors to tend to their gardens. When you consider that a teaspoon of water provides a breeding environment capable of producing hundreds of mosquitoes, it’s clear that they may be growing more than they bargained for. Schaumburg, Illinois-based Wellmark International’s PreStrike (www.prestrike.com) granular product has proven to be an effective method for treating standing water and helping gardeners who want to minimize the impact of mosquitoes on their lives while increasing their gardening enjoyment.
PreStrike larvicide is a preventative mosquito control product that kills developing mosquitoes before they hatch by using an insect growth regulator. This product differs significantly from most insecticide products on the market today. Instead of killing adult mosquitoes after they have already had the chance to bite you or your pet, PreStrike actually prevents them from ever reaching the breeding, biting adult stage.
Gardeners can use this product in their yard to protect against any potential mosquito breeding ground consisting of standing water. It is easy to use; simply sprinkle the granules in areas where mosquitoes may breed (nothing to mix or spray). Because an infected mosquito can bite any human or animal, this product offers a means to reducing the risk of infection by reducing mosquito populations. PreStrike granules offer long-lasting mosquito control for up to 21 days. Wellmark plans on introducing a 30-day product later this year. PreStrike can be found at a wide variety of retail outlets.
“Depending on what part of the country you live in, gardening may be well underway making it the right time to start treating the water around your home and garden area,” said Mark Newberg, Wellmark International Corporate Communications Director. “PreStrike’s proven effectiveness in the professional marketplace make it a logical choice for gardeners who are concerned about mosquito-borne viruses.”
2003 CDC West Nile Virus statistics underscore the importance of preventive measures in treating outdoor living environment. West Nile Virus has become a health concern in virtually every state as cases were reported everywhere except Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. In all, there were 9,122 cases with 69% of these being West Nile Fever (milder disease), 30% were West Nile meningitis (severe disease) and the remaining cases were clinically unspecified.*
About Wellmark International
Wellmark International (www.wellmarkinternational.com) is a leading manufacturer of products to control economic, nuisance and disease-carrying insects and is dedicated to improving the wellness of people and pets through effective pest management. Wellmark International is a leading producer of chemical and biorational products for professional pest control and pioneered insect growth regulators—using the insect’s own chemistry as a means to reduce pest populations.
*Centers for Disease Control West Nile Virus Case statistics as of January 28, 2004. For updated information, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov.
