Arlington Outlines 2026 Mosquito Control, Ground Spraying Plans

Published on May 12, 2026

By Susan Schrock, Office of Communication

Don’t let the buzz ruin your summer. Mosquito season is officially here, and the City of Arlington is taking a proactive stand to keep our neighborhoods safe.

As part of its public health strategy, the City works to keep the mosquito population down through a variety of efforts. These include targeted ground spraying in areas with known virus-infected mosquitos, adding larvicide to standing water on public property to kill developing mosquitos, and educating property owners how to eliminate mosquito breeding sites at their home or business through public education and code compliance.

Here is a deeper look at the City’s plan to combat mosquito-borne viruses—and how you can protect yourself and your family and help us eliminate mosquito breeding sites at your home.

Targeted Ground Spraying

From May through October, the City of Arlington traps mosquitos to be tested by Tarrant County Public Health for the West Nile and St. Louis Encephalitis Viruses. These weekly test results help the City identify areas where to conduct targeted ground spraying with an ultra-low volume application of water-based permethrin product to reduce adult mosquito populations in an effort to prevent human infections.

Arlington follows guidance from Tarrant County Public Health regarding when to conduct targeted ground spraying. If samples collected from a mosquito trap test positive for three weeks in a row, the City's mosquito control contractor will conduct targeted ground spraying within a half-mile radius of the trap site over two consecutive nights. Spraying will be conducted between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., weather permitting.

The City could decide to conduct targeted ground spraying around a trap location after only one week or two weeks of positive test results when additional key risk factors are present. These include:

• Mosquito abundance (a positive virus test result with more than 50 mosquitoes in a trap)
• Proximity to any recent human West Nile Virus cases
• Scheduled outdoor events during dusk or nighttime hours near a positive mosquito trap location
• High West Nile Virus infection rate in collected mosquito sample

Arlington works to notify the public about scheduled targeted ground spraying through posts on the City’s social media accounts, news releases to local media, and physical signs and electronic message boards placed near spray sites.

Follow the Three Ds to Be Mosquito Free

The City of Arlington also partners with Tarrant County Public Health to educate the public on simple measures they should take to prevent potentially dangerous mosquito bites.

• DEET is an ingredient to look for in your insect repellent. Follow label instructions, and always wear repellent when outdoors.
• Dress in long sleeves and pants when you're outside. For extra protection, you may want to spray thin clothing with repellent.
• Drain standing water in your yard and neighborhood where mosquitoes can breed. This includes old tires, flowerpots, clogged rain gutters, etc. Mosquitoes may develop in any water stagnant for more than three or four days. For shallow standing water that cannot be eliminated, check regularly for the presence of mosquito larvae and if seen, apply a biological larvicide often referred to as "mosquito dunks," available at local hardware stores.

What do I need to do to prepare for targeted ground spraying?

No specific risks to animals or the environment are expected, and no special precautions are required. People who are concerned about exposure to a pesticide, such as those with chemical sensitivity or breathing conditions such as asthma can reduce their potential for exposure by staying indoors during the application period (typically nighttime). Once the pesticide product dissipates, it breaks down in the environment and produces little residual effect.

For more information about the targeted ground spraying, please call the City of Arlington's Action Center at 817-459-6777. Download the City's free Ask Arlington app today to receive notifications about targeted ground spraying or to report standing water or mosquito infestations on private property.