Help! Mosquito larvae found in my flower pot....

[anitabatho]

Okay I am well and truly mortified! I am so diligent about stagnant water but we've been away and clearly I have been negligent and unfortunately the NEA showed up on my doorstep and found larvae in my plant pot tray outside. Now I know they're going to fine me but I just feel stressed about the whole thing and want to know if anyone else has had this happen to them recently and how it all panned out. Figure it might make me feel better to hear about other people's mosquito related woes...
thanks.

[sundaymorningstaple]

If they found larva then you will most probably get a $200 fine if it's your first offense. Subsequent offenses will get you much higher fines. If you get a fine from NEA, just pay it and be prepared to see the NEA inspectors very regularly for a while to ensure that you do keep things drained.

With diligent attention paid to any vessels that can hold a bottle cap's worth of water, and usage of proper anti-larval mosquito blocks you wont have any more to worry about.

http://www.dengue.gov.sg/

[anitabatho]

Thanks for your reply. This took me by surprise as I thought we were being vigilant but I guess with all the rain we've been having recently I should have stepped up our checks. $200! Wow I was hoping it would be $100 but they've obviously increased it....sigh.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Actually they have reduced it. I know. When I first bought my flat, we were doing renovations and the contractors were still working, but my wife had brought over bunches of potted plants. I was there working one afternoon when an NEA officer found mozzie larva and as a first offense it was $300! So, consider yourself lucky. Back then a second offense was $1000. Not sure what it is today.

[QRM]

A chum used to diligently turn over any buckets that are left outside in the garden, she still got fined because of the lip in an upturned bucket held a spoon full of water. Mind you she got dengue, so no matter how diligent you are they will still get you.

[JR8]

We have the mosquito-patrol at our condo this week.

We run a pretty tight ship anyway, but I've done a bit of extra tidying up just to be sure.

I haven't had such an inspection for several years, and am just wondering what details will be required of me. Do I have to give personal details, establish credentials, or prove id?

Back in the UK carrying ID is not required in any shape or form in everyday life that I can think of, and a requirement to have to do so is rather Orwellian. So I want to be prepared for why they might ask of me, rather than have it come as a surprise.

Thx

[ShouldBeFun]

I move to Singapore in less than two weeks and this thread has me worried. I've got a place in the Caribbean with two gardens and a pond in it.

How on earth are you supposed to control mosquito breeding? I can think with a pond in the garden this sounds like a mosquito paradise...

[rajagainstthemachine]

I move to Singapore in less than two weeks and this thread has me worried. I've got a place in the Caribbean with two gardens and a pond in it.

How on earth are you supposed to control mosquito breeding? I can think with a pond in the garden this sounds like a mosquito paradise...

do you have fish in the pond? fish eat mosquito larvae

[JR8]

I move to Singapore in less than two weeks and this thread has me worried. I've got a place in the Caribbean with two gardens and a pond in it.

How on earth are you supposed to control mosquito breeding? I can think with a pond in the garden this sounds like a mosquito paradise...

Potential breeding grounds amongst the 'common parts' are entirely the managements' responsibility and not yours. Swimming pools, ponds, flooded planted areas, and so on.

It's what's on your individual let property (esp. the balcony?) that can be a problem.

I just don't like 2-3 spotty teenagers, waving an ID whilst barging into my home. So would prefer to know in advance what if any personal info I'm obliged to give them.

[sundaymorningstaple]

They won't be spotty and they won't be teenagers. They will be wearing NEA uniform shirts & trousers and will gladly show you their Identification Cards and will also furnish you with a phone number to call if you need further proof or clarification. As they are a government ministry, you will give them whatever they require in reference to identity & registration.

[ShouldBeFun]

I move to Singapore in less than two weeks and this thread has me worried. I've got a place in the Caribbean with two gardens and a pond in it.

How on earth are you supposed to control mosquito breeding? I can think with a pond in the garden this sounds like a mosquito paradise...

Potential breeding grounds amongst the 'common parts' are entirely the managements' responsibility and not yours. Swimming pools, ponds, flooded planted areas, and so on.

It's what's on your individual let property (esp. the balcony?) that can be a problem.

I've got a ground floor with a garden which I need for dog and it has a small ornamental pond in it which would be considered my balcony but actually quite large. Think I'll just nuke it with chlorine unless there is a rule against that.

[sundaymorningstaple]

BTI Mosquito Dunks are a mosquito larvae killer. Can be readily bought in Singapore....

Several different brands out there, here is one for reference

http://www.planetnatural.com/wp-content ... ks-faq.pdf

[JR8]

@SMS
<i>They won't be spotty</i>

Have you been rubbing your crystal balls again, as I can’t imagine how else you know that?

<i> and they won't be teenagers. They will be wearing NEA uniform shirts & trousers and will gladly show you their Identification Cards and will also furnish you with a phone number to call if you need further proof or clarification. </i>

Thanks, useful to know.

<i>As they are a government ministry, you will give them whatever they require in reference to identity & registration.</i>

Orwellian indeed. Maybe I’ll just be by the pool, asleep, or be out all week. I mean if they can't make an appointment, then I have no intention of sitting in for four days waiting for them.


p.s. What I described was my previous experience of them. You are lucky that yours has apparently been different.


@SBF. You can get anti-larval insecticide pellets that won’t harm the fish. Problem solved.

[sundaymorningstaple]

If they cannot get into your place and they suspect it of harbouring a Dengue cluster, they CAN get a court order to forcibly enter the premises so go ahead and play-play like you are on an expat forum with them.

[JR8]

If they cannot get into your place and they suspect it of harbouring a Dengue cluster, they CAN get a court order to forcibly enter the premises so go ahead and play-play like you are on an expat forum with them.

I'm sure I take the matter and risk of dengue just as seriously as you, so please don't think I'm un-caring or flippant, I'm not. I'm only interested in the mechanism/procedure of the inspections.

I'm not 'play playing', just saying I'm not able to sit at home waiting for days for someone without an appointment. Do you see the difference? I'm the only one home right now, so I can't be expected to sit around just waiting, and I cannot believe that they realistically imagine that I can. Would you take four days off to sit at home all day just waiting?

BTW the local storm drains were repeatedly overflowing all over the road a month or two back. This week the top deck of the carpark has been partially-underwater (a flooded area of maybe 50M2) for several days. It's regrettable that these much bigger issues seem to have a slower or absent way of getting addressed as vigorously.