The Fraser Valley's mosquito assassins have been working overtime trying to kill as many of the pesky blood suckers as possible.

Flooding and high water earlier this year created ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, according to Morrow Mosquito's Dirk Morrow.

That has resulted in Morrow Mosquito, which is contracted by the Fraser Valley Regional District to combat mosquitoes, targeting 500 hectares more than last year, Morrow said.

"They're definitely bad along the river," he told the Times. "Higher water means more area for the mosquitoes to hatch."

To battle the pests, Morrow's crews deposit- by hand and by helicopter-tiny corn-based granules three millimetres in diameter in mosquito breeding grounds. The water activates a bacteria in the granules. The bacteria kills mosquitoes after being eaten.

For those who want to take the fight into their own hands, Coun. Chuck Stam suggested his own remedy at Tuesday's council meeting.

Stam lives on Fairfield Island, where he said "there are almost as many as chickens." He told council that he had visited a local bird habitat store and bought a bat house. While Stam said one bat can consume 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour, that figure has been disputed by mosquito experts who say it is a myth sparked by a flawed study.

Whatever the case, Morrow has good news for mosquito-haters. Morrow said crews have been monitoring breeding grounds, but haven't found any unhatched larvae in recent days. That means the number of the insects shouldn't increase any more.

In the meantime, he advises people to use repellant and wear light-coloured clothing and long sleeves and pants.

? Mayor Sharon Gaetz also asked the public to contact the Fraser Valley Regional District's mosquito control hotline at 1888733-2333 to register mosquito-related complaints.

tolsen@chilliwacktimes.com