Control Mosquitoes from Above During All Life Stages
Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance—they pose serious public health risks by spreading diseases like West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, and dengue. EPA-registered larvicides and adulticides are invaluable tools to help combat mosquitoes at different life stages. Truck-mounted Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) sprayers and backpack sprayers are commonly used, but aerial solutions can also complement ground-based efforts by providing uniform coverage over large, inaccessible, or hazardous areas.
While both aerial larviciding and adulticiding play a safe and necessary role in mosquito management, they serve distinct purposes and should not be viewed as interchangeable. Instead of comparing them directly, it’s important to recognize how each method contributes to a comprehensive strategy. Larviciding helps prevent mosquito outbreaks before they begin, while adulticiding quickly controls surging adult populations.
Identifying Areas for Larvicide Applications
Larviciding targets mosquitoes in their larval stage before they have developed into biting adults. Routine surveillance of stormwater ponds, ditches, and other areas that collect water helps professionals identify mosquito breeding sites. Water samples capturing larvae are then collected using dip cups or tubular dippers to determine which areas have abundant mosquito larvae and if larvicides—either in liquid or granular form—should be applied.
Aerial Larviciding Application
Aerial larviciding is typically performed via drone or turbo-powered single-engine helicopter for more compact areas, or with a fixed-wing single-engine aircraft for more vast areas. Missions are completed during daylight hours when target sites are most visible. In addition to preventing mosquito larvae from maturing, larvicides are generally more cost-effective than adulticides over time, as the need for recurring adulticide applications is reduced.
Aerial Adulticiding Application
Adulticiding, on the other hand, focuses on eliminating mosquitoes that have already reached adulthood. This is especially important following heavy rains or natural disasters when mosquito populations surge or in situations where larviciding isn’t feasible. Professionals monitor adult mosquito activity through specialized trapping techniques and laboratory disease testing to assess public health risks.
Based on surveillance data, adulticides are strategically applied in the right amounts in the right place at the right time. Often, these decisions are made when action thresholds are reached. These are pre-determined benchmarks that, when surpassed, indicate that targeted intervention is necessary. Action thresholds may be based on mosquito population, distribution, disease presence, budget, and the community’s management goals.
Low-flying twin-engine aircraft are most commonly used for aerial adulticiding. Liquid products are dispersed in ultra-fine droplets, designed to remain airborne long enough to contact and kill mosquitoes in flight. The applications are carefully timed when the target species are most active, most often around dawn and dusk. Given the impact of environmental factors such as wind speed and temperature, GPS technology and meteorological software are used to monitor conditions and optimize flight paths to ensure precise, uniform coverage.
Pre and Post Aerial Application Best Practices
Whether aerial larviciding or adulticiding is taking place, pre-mission communication is important to keep both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the public informed. Aerial operations often attract attention and raise questions about safety and environmental impact. Proactive outreach helps ensure safety and transparency within the community.
Likewise, post-flight surveillance and testing allow professionals to assess the efficacy of the larvicide or adulticide treatment and monitor for signs of insecticide resistance. In some cases, follow-up applications using different products or product concentrations may be necessary.
Incorporating Aerial Applications Into Your Mosquito Management Program
Larviciding and adulticiding play different yet equally important roles in mosquito control, and a well-executed program incorporates both strategies to protect public health. Truck and backpack applications are effective, but when vast or inaccessible locations must be treated or when rapid response is the priority, an aerial approach can help optimize time, resources, and manpower. A twin-engine aircraft covers significantly more ground in less time, treating approximately 50,000 acres in a single night compared to just 3,000 acres by a single truck.
VDCI is one of the few companies in the nation that owns and operates an aerial fleet to perform larvicide and adulticide applications. All VDCI pilots are licensed pesticide applicators and are authorized through the FAA in maintenance procedures and airspace regulations. With a combined 50,000+ hours of experience, our aerial team is available to serve communities and municipalities across the U.S. Contact us to learn how aerial mosquito spraying can fit into your management program.
Contact Our Experts
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Since 1992, Vector Disease Control International (VDCI) has taken pride in providing municipalities, mosquito abatement districts, industrial sites, planned communities, homeowners associations, and golf courses with the tools they need to run effective mosquito control programs. We are determined to protect the public health of the communities in which we operate. Our mosquito control professionals have over 100 years of combined experience in the field of public health, specifically vector disease control. We strive to provide the most effective and scientifically sound mosquito surveillance and control programs possible based on an Integrated Mosquito Management approach recommended by the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). VDCI is the only company in the country that can manage all aspects of an integrated mosquito management program, from surveillance to disease testing to aerial application in emergency situations.