|
 Mosquito Control Questions and Answers
1. What are current mosquito control methods?
There are two basic types of control methods to reduce the number of mosquitoes.
The first is called "Adulticiding." This is where the adult mosquitoes are targeted by means of chemical controls. Typical spray applications include low volume chemical fogging and aerial spraying. These types of sprays are usually designed to kill adult mosquitoes that are flying in and around trees, bushes, and the upper portions of buildings. In Calaveras County, a form of Pyrethrin called Pyrenone is used in the fogging machines.
The second method of control is known as "Larviciding." This is where the larvae stage of the mosquito life cycle are the targeted for control. Larvicides are chemicals usually in the form of Mosquito Dunks®, briquettes, granules, and sprays. The most commonly used larvicides are biological control agents which are the dead spores of varieties of the natural soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, especially Bt israelensis (BTI) or Bacillus thuringiensis(Bs.). These organisms are a bacterium that only targets the mosquito larvae. It is safe for animals to drink treated water, as well as safe for all fish. Mosquito Dunks®, are available at most hardware stores.
The last form of control is Gambusi affinis or "Mosquito Fish."
2. What is Calaveras County Doing?
Weekly trapping and monitoring of mosquito populations and West Nile virus will be performed during the mosquito breeding season county wide, which typically lasts until December.
Calaveras County will be conducting basic larvicide and adulticide control operations as conditions warrant.
The majority of the larval chemical products to be used in the control program include various forms of Bs, Bti, and an occasional application of methoprene. The methoprene is applied as a briquette or pellet, and only kills mosquito larvae.
Adulticides will be applied using a truck mounted fogging machine, and will be used only in areas with either high mosquito trap numbers and or where positive West Nile mosquitoes have been found. Efforts will be concentrated on finding and eliminating the breeding sources. Every effort will be made to contact residences in affected areas prior to early morning or late evening fogging.
3. Will Calaveras County be spraying my property?
Yes! Only areas with high mosquito numbers will be targeted for fogging operations, in conjunction with on site larval site assements. Every effort is made to find the breeding source after the adult population has been reduced. You will be contacted by staff asking for site access prior to entering your property.
4. What can I do?
Drain ALL standing water in and around your home. Look for standing water in clogged rain gutters, old buckets, junked cars and boats, debris, neglected swimming pools, wheelbarrows, ponds, bird baths, tires, water troughs and any other device that holds shallow water. Together with your help we will be able to help prevent the spread of West Nile Virus!
Please Remember: This is a new program with limited staff availability. Every effort is being made to control West Nile carrying mosquitoes. Thank you for your participation and understanding.
|
