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LARVICIDING PROGRAM
Larviciding is the main component for a successful mosquito control program. Larviciding is the action taken to destroy mosquito larvae in stagnant water. Mosquito larvae left untreated develop into adult mosquitoes, which are a nuisance at best and a public health threat in the worst case.
Successful larviciding begins with an understanding of the type of mosquito present in our area. The Aedes Vexans mosquito in our area develops in stagnant water found in ditches and ground depressions which hold water for more than seven days. Treating these areas with an insecticide destroys the mosquito larvae.
Some of the larvicides used in the Grand Forks Mosquito Control Program include, Altosid, (an insect growth regulator) Vectolex and BTI (biological insecticides) Abate, (an organophosphate insecticide). All mosquito control personnel are certified by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.
The larviciding program begins in April and continues through September. In most areas the active larviciding is discontinued in late August, the residual life for some of the chemicals is about 30 days which provides coverage until late September. September 20th is generally the date when the Grand Forks area can expect its first frost of fall. The frost will kill most remaining larvae and mosquitoes for the season.
The larviciding program applies insecticides/larvicides to stagnant water within the City of Grand Forks and the surrounding area. The area that is larvicided was expanded in 1995 to approximately 150 square miles. Twenty-two part-time seasonal employees are hired annually to apply the insecticides to areas of stagnant water. The employees sample an area and if mosquito larvae are present, the area is treated with the proper larvicide product. The sampling and treating method allows treatment to be more cost effective as larviciding is only necessary when mosquito larvae are present.
Larviciding is the main component of a comprehensive Mosquito Control Program. |