Newsroom
Nicosia Municipality has stepped up mosquito spraying across the capital after heavy rain, sunshine, and high temperatures created ideal breeding conditions.
Crews have been working overtime and through weekends since last week, targeting public areas, rivers, and other places where water has collected. The municipality is also responding to a growing number of complaints from residents, with Engomi currently facing the worst of the problem.
But while municipal teams are spraying outdoors, health officials say much of the mosquito population is being produced behind private gates.
More than 60% of the breeding sites that crews are called to treat are found inside homes, gardens, or neighboring properties.
The usual culprits include buckets, tanks, flowerpot saucers, neglected swimming pools, and pet bowls in which water has been allowed to sit. Even a forgotten jar can produce a fresh batch of mosquitoes.
Michalis Lagos, head of Nicosia Municipality’s Health Services, said mosquitoes have a short breeding cycle of about eight to nine days. Removing standing water promptly can interrupt that cycle before the insects hatch and begin biting.
“If containers are left exposed and a mosquito lays eggs, a new breeding cycle will begin,” he told the Cyprus News Agency.
Spraying is carried out throughout the year in public places and following complaints from residents. Current operations cover areas including Engomi, Kaimakli, Pallouriotissa, and Aglantzia.
The municipality also works with the United Nations on a mosquito-control program inside the buffer zone. From March to October, crews spray rivers and other possible breeding areas every two weeks.
Drones could soon join the operation.
The municipality is awarding a tender for drone spraying in places that are difficult or unsafe for workers to reach, with the first flight expected in the near future.
Health officials stressed, however, that widespread spraying over grass, gardens, and private property is not always possible or safe. The careless use of chemicals can harm people, animals, and the environment.
Different mosquito species also favor different conditions. Some reproduce in standing water, while others thrive around damp soil, thick vegetation, and grass.
Residents are advised to water gardens early in the morning instead of at night, allowing the ground to dry before mosquitoes become most active. They should also clean around low plants, empty containers after rain, change pets’ drinking water regularly, and maintain swimming pools.
Installing screens on windows and using approved repellents can provide additional protection when mosquito numbers rise.
Officials say these simple checks will become more important as climate change brings increasingly frequent bouts of severe rain followed by intense heat.
The municipality can spray rivers, public spaces, and difficult-to-reach areas. It cannot, however, empty every forgotten flowerpot saucer in Nicosia.
Residents facing a serious mosquito problem can contact Nicosia Municipality on 22 797000 or submit a complaint through the Novoville app.
