Adulticiding FAQ

What does Baker Valley Vector Control District do to control mosquitoes?

 

Baker Valley Vector Control District uses multiple methods to control mosquitoes. Source reduction & larviciding are the preferred methods of mosquito control because we can be very targeted with our applications & get the mosquitoes before they have time to become adults. Once adult mosquito numbers become too high, we make an adulticide application.

 

What is an adulticide treatment & how is the application made?

 

An adulticide treatment is when an application is made to target adult mosquitoes. The application is made by applying a pesticide at low rates using an ultra-low volume fogger mounted in the back of a truck or side by side. The ultra-low volume fogger puts the pesticide out as small droplets, creating a “fog” that drifts through the area & kills the adult mosquitoes. The application takes place between dusk & dawn when adult mosquitoes are most active. 

 

What triggers an adulticide treatment?

 

An adulticide treatment is triggered when either one or a combination of the following events happen:

• One of our adult mosquito surveillance traps that we deploy on a weekly basis throughout the summer catches enough mosquitoes that are over the acceptable threshold.

• Adult mosquito landing rates are over the acceptable threshold in an area. (A landing rate is obtained by a field technician who inspects an area & takes note of the amount of adult mosquitoes that land on them within a 1 minute timeframe)

• A high volume of mosquito complaints are reported from an area.

 

What kind of adulticides are being applied?

 

BVVCD may use multiple formulations of adulticides depending on cost, availability, product rotation, etc. BVVCD primarily uses pyrithroid-based products that are labeled for mosquito control applications. You can find a list of products that BVVCD uses on our website https://www.bvvcd.org/labels-sds

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Are these adulticide products harmful to humans, pets, the environment, etc?

 

All of the adulticide products that BVVCD uses have been extensively researched by the EPA. When used according to product label instructions, adulticides do not harm people, pets, or the environment.

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Will an adulticide treatment have an impact on bees?

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Due to the timing of our adulticide applications taking place between dusk & dawn, this greatly reduces the chance of bees coming into contact with the adulticides we use to control mosquitoes since bees are in their hives in the evening hours. Also, since the adulticides we use break down rapidly once released in the invironment, there has been little evidence to suggest increased bee mortality due to contact with residual adulticide after an application.

 

How long does an adulticide treatment last?

 

In general, when an adulticide application occurs at dusk, the product breaks down rapidly & is dissipated shortly after Dawn

 

If you have any other questions regarding adulticide applications, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office.