Some Arlington and Pantego neighborhoods will be spending a couple of nights with the mosquito trucks this week, after two traps in Pantego tested positive for West Nile virus. Ground crews are slated to roll through overnight on June 30 and July 1, hitting areas within roughly a half-mile of the affected traps in an effort to knock down infected adult mosquitoes.
According to the City of Arlington, Tarrant County Public Health notified local officials that two mosquito trap samples in the Town of Pantego came back positive for West Nile virus. In response, the city’s contractor will conduct two nights of targeted ground spraying inside a half-mile radius of the trap locations. Weather permitting, trucks are scheduled to run from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 1. Maps released by the city highlight Shady Valley Drive at West Pioneer Parkway and Miller Lane at Pantego Drive as the spray focal points.
Where and how crews will operate
The city says its contractor will apply an ultra-low-volume, water-based permethrin product aimed at reducing adult Culex mosquitoes, the type that can transmit West Nile virus. These EPA-registered adulticides are commonly used in targeted mosquito control and are considered safe when applied according to label instructions, according to the CDC. Federal reviews of permethrin outline its approved uses and safety profile, per the EPA.
Tarrant County Public Health manages the mosquito trap network that feeds lab results to area cities, then posts testing updates that guide when and where municipalities respond with actions like spraying, according to Tarrant County Public Health.
What residents should know
Residents who live in the spray zones are being urged to limit exposure during operations by staying indoors with windows closed while trucks are active and by bringing pets inside. People with chemical sensitivities or respiratory issues may want to take additional precautions during the spray hours.
The city says it will push notifications through social media, posted street signs, electronic message boards near spray routes, and the Ask Arlington app. Neighbors can also report standing water or get more details by calling the Action Center at 817-459-6777, according to the City of Arlington.
Background
West Nile activity in North Texas usually ramps up between May and October. The county logged its first positive mosquito samples of 2026 in mid-May as part of routine surveillance, according to Tarrant County Public Health. The Texas Department of State Health Services has also confirmed human West Nile activity this year, underscoring why officials keep traps running and add targeted sprays when positives turn up, according to Texas DSHS.
Health officials continue to push the “Three Ds” of mosquito protection: use DEET-based or other approved repellents, dress in long sleeves and long pants when possible, and drain standing water around homes to cut down on backyard breeding sites.
