Hear ways to combat mosquitoes

This week is National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, and the Shelby County Health Department’s Vector Control Program is holding informational sessions on the insects.

Two will be held Thursday: from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Goodwill Homes Senior Center at 163 W. Raines Road and from 12:20 to 2 p.m. at the City University School of Liberal Arts at 1500 Dunn Ave.

Residents can learn more about efforts to control the mosquito population and ways they can protect themselves.

This time of year, Vector Control workers collect a small fish called gambusia from nearby streams, which is effective at eating large amounts of mosquito larvae.

Residents can pick up free gambusia from Vector Control at 2480 Central Ave. to use in decorative ponds and nonfunctioning swimming pools.