Article 16 on Warrant for Special Town Meeting, October 24, 2005
SURVEILLANCE and LARVICIDING are of the utmost importance, and they comprise the greatest portion of the program cost. This is the regular testing of mosquitoes and birds for the virus, and the application of larvicides to mosquito breeding areas to kill or inhibit the growth of mosquito larvae (the early stage of the mosquito) from developing into the adult form. Continued annual surveillance is an early intervention or preemptive action to prevent a potential mosquito breeding site from becoming an actual mosquito breeding site.
ADULTICIDING is a term used by mosquito control to describe spraying for adult or flying mosquitoes. There are two kinds of adulticiding: Aerial, done by aircraft only in the event of a public health emergency; and Ground, sprayed from trucks selectively in accordance with the individual municipality’s Best Management Practice Plan (BMP).
Ground Adulticiding is used in today’s programs to control the mosquito populations in their aquatic or larval stages. This is accomplished by means of a truck-mounted Ultra Low Volume (ULV) aerosol sprayer. ULV sprays up to six ounces of insecticide per acre, creating a 300- to 400-foot swath. Depending on wind direction this swath will drift off the road; and tiny droplets will impinge on mosquitoes, effectively controlling the mosquitoes in the area.
Insecticide: The District uses Anvil (EPA Reg. No. 1021-1688-8329) for ULV applications. The active ingredient, Sumithrin, has a very low toxicity to mammals. This product is registered for use by the US EPA and the Mass. Pesticide Bureau. All District personnel are certified applicators and annually attend seminars to obtain recertification credits.
Most people are not expected to experience any adverse health effects after pesticide spraying for adult mosquito control. This includes pregnant women and unborn children. If a person has any concerns, the Board of Health may be contacted to request that spraying be excluded from the specific property.
Ground sprays do not pose an unreasonable risk to birds or mammals. Since spraying is done in the late evening, the bees and other flying insects are not foraging at that hour and will not be affected.
West Nile Virus: The primary mosquito carrier of WNV, Culex Pipiens, usually breeds in artificial containers such as catch basins, storm water structures, industrial parks and commercial or agricultural livestock facilities. Regularly empty any water-holding containers on your property such as garbage cans, flower pots, swimming pool covers, watering troughs and birdbaths, and dispose of old tires.
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