People of Skopje, get out the sprays - but also protect the bees. From 13 to 16 July, over four nights, Skopje will carry out ground spraying against adult mosquitoes. The operation will run in the night hours, when mosquitoes are most active and the treatment most effective.

The City of Skopje is calling on beekeepers to protect their bee colonies in time - and that is not a formality. The agents used against mosquitoes are dangerous for bees too, which are among the most important yet most endangered insects. That is why every such operation is a balancing act: you poison what bites while watching out for what pollinates. When the spraying is done at night, part of that balance is already respected, because the bees are in their hives by then.

Disinfestation is a seasonal routine that stirs the same reactions every summer - some are glad there will be fewer mosquitoes, others worry about the chemicals in the air. Both concerns are legitimate. Mosquitoes aren't just annoying; they carry diseases, so controlling them is a matter of public health, not comfort. On the other hand, citizens have a right to know what exactly is being sprayed and how safe it is.

For those four nights, it is best to keep windows closed during the spraying hours and not leave children's food and toys outside. Small precautions that are worth it. And in the long run, the real answer to mosquitoes isn't just spraying every summer, but also tackling the sources - standing water, uncleaned canals, neglected yards. Spraying kills the adults; the sources breed new ones.