Types of Treatment
Larvicide
Due to the terrain and tall trees in our area we use two separate approaches for control. The first is the elimination of larval habitats by individual property owners and may be combined with an EPA approved larvicide for home use. These methods target aquatic larval mosquitoes coinciding with peak periods of larval development. Individual property owners are encouraged to perform the following to eliminate larval habitats:
Look around your property and help eliminate mosquitos:
1. Empty standing water from old tires, buckets, toys, etc.
2. Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains,
wading pools, rain barrels and potted plant trays
at least once a week.
3. Drain or fill temporary pools with dirt.
4. Keep swimming pools treated and circulating.
5. Make sure window and door screens are “bug tight”.
6. Replace outdoor lights with yellow “bug” lights.
Additional information regarding larvicides from the CDC:
Mosquito Control: What you need to know about using larvicides (cdc.gov)
Adulticide
Adulticiding is controlling mosquitoes in their adult stage. Adulticides are products that rapidly reduce adult mosquito populations. This can become necessary when larval control measures are insufficient or not feasible. Adulticiding may be initiated when there is evidence of significant populations of mosquitoes in a region or if there is evidence of mosquito borne disease. The most common method of adulticiding is ultra-low volume (ULV) spraying. ULV spraying is the process of putting very small amounts of liquid into the air as a fine mist of droplets. These droplets float on the air currents and quickly eliminate mosquitoes that come into contact with them. ULV adulticides are applied when mosquitoes are most active-typically early evening or pre-dawn and when bees are inactive. Adult mosquito populations are controlled by spraying an adulticide using helicopter aerial spraying.
During the 3-4-month annual mosquito season we spray on a six-week cycle. During times where the mosquito population may be diminished, we may skip spraying and maintain a wait and see stance.