Understanding Biological Mosquito Control Agents

When most people think of mosquito abatement, they think of trucks or airplanes spraying insecticides to control the biting adult mosquitoes. However, what many don’t realize is that this spraying is just one part of any well managed mosquito control program. Scientifically-based modern mosquito abatement programs use what is called Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) to reduce their mosquito populations while minimizing negative effects on the environment. As the name implies, these programs integrate all available resources, such as larval and adult surveillance, disease testing, source reduction, public education and GIS mapping, in addition to pesticide applications, in order to provide the best mosquito control possible and protect the public health. One of the most important aspects of a complete Integrated Mosquito Management program is the use of biological mosquito control agents.

So what are biological mosquito control agents?

While they may sound intimidating, biological mosquito control agents are simply naturally occurring organisms, such as bacteria or predatory animals, which can be used by mosquito control professionals to reduce local mosquito populations. Biological mosquito control agents are often an important tool in mosquito control because, when used correctly, they are both environmentally friendly and highly effective. There are a few methods of biological mosquito control to be aware of – some that are effective and some that are not.

Biological control of mosquito larva using larvicides

The most commonly used biological control agent is a naturally occurring soil bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, or Bti. Bti was discovered in Israel in 1977 and quickly became commercially available once it was shown to be an inexpensive, effective, and very target specific mosquito larvicide. Bti larva control products are composed of microscopic crystal proteins that only kill mosquito, black fly, and certain midge larvae upon ingestion. From dry, corn cob-based granules, to water-based liquids, to time release briquets, Bti larva control products are available for controlling mosquito larvae in a variety of circumstances and can be applied using many different types of application equipment. Small areas of standing water with thick vegetation can be treated with power backpack blowers, while large marshes or irrigated pastures can be treated with airplanes or helicopters, and storm drains or municipal catch basins may be treated by hand with time release briquets. Because of its effectiveness and versatility, as well as its environmentally sound nature, Bti products are now the preferred biological mosquito control agents for most integrated mosquito management programs, including those that VDCI manages. A similar biological control agent is Bacillus sphaericus (Bs). Bs larvicides are also produced in various formulations and are very target specific to mosquito larvae. However, because the protein toxins that Bs produces are different from the Bti toxins, there are issues that somewhat limit the situations where Bs should be used. First, Bs tends to be more expensive than Bti, which can be a limiting factor for many IMM programs, but it also tends to have a longer residual effect, which then offsets some of this additional expense. Second, while Bs is highly effective in controlling mosquitoes of the Culex genus, as well as other multi-voltine (breeds multiple times per year) species, it is not as effective in controlling many of the uni-voltine (breeds only once per year) species, such as those within the genus Aedes. For these reasons, the strategic use of Bacillus sphaericus as a biological mosquito control agent can be very valuable when the decision is made by a well informed mosquito control program manager.

Mosquitofish, biological mosquito control agent

Mosquito fish for biological control of mosquito vectors

The use of predatory fish that feed on mosquito larvae is one of the original biological methods for controlling larval mosquitoes and managing larval habitats. The most frequently used fish for mosquito control is the fresh water Gambusia affinis, commonly known as the mosquito fish. This native southeastern United States species has been widely introduced around the world for mosquito control; however, stocking fish is not always a legal, practical or viable mosquito control option. Because the introduction of non-native fish species into some aquatic environments is not only illegal, but can also have dramatic negative effects on native species and the environment, a careful assessment of each site must be made prior to any stocking of fish as biological control agents. In some cases an effective alternative is to stock native fish species such as fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) or young bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), while other times it may be acceptable to introduce non-native species into isolated mosquito breeding habitat such as unused swimming pools or ornamental ponds. Regardless of the circumstances, state and federal regulations should always be consulted prior to any use of fish as a biological control agent.

Are birds and bats effective for biological mosquito control?

Unfortunately, and contrary to popular belief, birds and bats are not effective biological control agents for mosquitoes. Because mosquitoes are so small, and have such minimal nutritional value, neither birds nor bats select mosquitoes as a primary food source in the wild.

Are dragonflies effective biological mosquito control agents?

That being said, birds, bats and other occasional mosquito predators like dragonflies all play important roles in the environment and can certainly be encouraged to thrive in mosquito habitats. Dragonfly nymphs are voracious, opportunistic predators in aquatic habitats, so some mosquito control benefit may be seen by creating dragonfly friendly habitats around yards with ornamental ponds and water features. Some beneficial plants to consider planting around the perimeter of a small pond are pickerel weed, arrowhead, spatterdock, lizard’s tail, and lilies. These plants not only provide excellent cover for the dragonfly larvae, but also provide nice platforms for adult dragonflies to perch or mate on.

Thus, when used correctly and strategically, biological mosquito control agents are an extremely safe and effective tool for mosquito control professionals and should always be considered as part of a comprehensive Integrated Mosquito Management program. Integrated Mosquito Management programs that are able to effectively incorporate as many control measures as possible are typically the most successful at reducing the mosquito populations in their areas, thereby minimizing the risk of mosquito-borne disease transmission to their residents.

VDCI is committed to public education and spreading awareness throughout the U.S. about the dangers of mosquito-borne diseases and their preventability, with the overarching goal of reducing illness and fatality statistics. Our dedicated and experienced staff works tirelessly to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in all of the contracts we service. If you would like more information about any aspect of an Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) Plan, including mosquito surveillance, disease testing, or adult control, please contact Vector Disease Control International (VDCI) and we will help you get started immediately.

Contact Our Biological Mosquito Control Experts

We are government partners in Integrated Mosquito Management. Complete the form below or call 800-413-4445 to learn how VDCI can help implement an Integrated Mosquito Management program or support an existing program in your community.

VDCI_Logo_square 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.

Mosquito of the Month: Aedes aegypti

Mosquito of the Month: Aedes Aegypti – The Yellow Fever Mosquito

“Celebrity status” isn’t generally something bestowed upon an insect. And yet one mosquito, Aedes aegypti, has been a part of the Zika headlines almost daily for much of the last year, garnering nearly as much attention from the press as the presidential candidates during this election year.

No other mosquito species has had such a dramatic impact on human history. Also known as the Yellow Fever Mosquito, Aedes aegypti was the first mosquito implicated as a vector of human disease. Experiments in the 1880’s by Cuban physician, Carlos Finlay, demonstrated that when one of these mosquitoes took a blood meal from a patient with Yellow Fever, it could transmit the disease to a healthy person just a couple days later during a subsequent bite. Initially, few people – including members of the scientific community – took the idea seriously, finding it hard to believe that such a small insect could kill a full grown person. It took a couple of decades and many additional experiments to finally prove Finlay’s theory.

yellow fever mosquito 2Today, many mosquito species have demonstrated the ability to be competent vectors of a variety of mosquito-borne diseases affecting not only humans but also many other animals. Aedes aegypti not only carries Yellow Fever, but is also a vector of West Nile virus, chikungunya, dengue, and more recently making the news as the primary vector of the Zika virus. While a vaccine exists now to protect us from Yellow Fever, vaccines for the other diseases are still under development and keeping a close eye on the Aedes aegypti species remains a top priority in many Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) programs.

The reports in the news focus on this mosquito’s role as a disease vector, labeling it as an evil species worthy of extinction. In fact, current research is developing technologies that may allow us to eradicate this species completely in the not-too-distant future, an ethical dilemma during a time when millions of dollars are spent annually to protect other species from extinction. As an entomologist, I find it hard not to admire the adaptability of this mosquito that only a few hundred years ago existed unnoticed by most humans in the dense tropical forests of Africa. Centuries of shipping trade, especially the trans-Atlantic transport of African slaves in the early-16th through mid-19th centuries, have spread Aedes aegypti (and diseases that it carries) around the world, establishing permanent populations in warmer climates.

Asian tiger mosquito_Aedes_Albopictus-1Like the closely related Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus), the Yellow Fever mosquito is quite beautiful on a microscopic scale. Jet black scales adorn the body and legs, marked by bright silvery-white scales on the sides of their thorax and abdomen, and ringed with white bands on each leg segment. A distinctive pattern of white scales form a “lyre-shaped” pattern on the top of the thorax. [What is a “lyre” you ask? It is that miniature harp-like string instrument that was a favorite of ancient Greek musicians.]. This is a stunning beauty as mosquitoes go.

Several features of this mosquito’s natural history have allowed it to adapt to life around humans successfully. In their native African forests, rain-filed containers, especially those found in tree-hollows, served as home to the larval stage of the mosquito. Females lay eggs just above the water surface, such that when the container fills, the eggs are flooded and hatch. The eggs can remain dry for years without hatching, waiting for rain water to flood them. Human habitations are surrounded by similar small watery containers, including rain gutters, flower pots, bird baths, and even children’s toys that could serve as larval habitats for the Yellow Fever mosquito. 

Ironically, many cemeteries where victims of Yellow Fever are buried have flower vases attached to the tomb stones, holding enough water to serve as larval habitat for more Yellow Fever mosquitoes. One of the most effective ways to control this species is to simply eliminate water containers around the home where the larvae could live. These mosquitoes are also daytime fliers, a challenge for control programs that only target the adults since daytime pesticide fogging can increase the likelihood of negative impacts on non-target insects.

Will the Yellow Fever Mosquito be allowed to continue impacting human history through the spread of disease? We have the capability to reduce their populations and thereby reduce the incidence of diseases that they vector. Perhaps we are within our right to eradicate it from most of the planet, especially since humans are responsible for expanding this mosquito’s range around the world. However, perhaps extinction is more than it deserves, and relict populations of this beautiful insect can be allowed to persist in the dense uninhabited forests of its native Africa.

Contact Us

Contact the vector professionals at 800.413.4445 for all your integrated tick & mosquito control needs.

VDCI_Logo_squareSince 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.

Mosquito of the Month: Aedes sollicitans – the Eastern Saltmarsh Mosquito

Exploring the Aedes sollicitans Mosquito

Mosquitoes carry diseases that can kill people. We know that now. We didn’t always.

Today, many mosquito control programs focus on reducing mosquito abundance because some species can vector life-threatening diseases. However, before making the connection between mosquitoes and disease, it was the nuisance biting that caught everyone’s attention. The Eastern Saltmarsh Mosquito, Aedes sollicitans, was one of the first mosquitoes implicated in creating unbearable living conditions due to their nuisance biting, and one of the first species targeted in large-scale mosquito management programs.

As its name implies, the Eastern Saltmarsh Mosquito is found primarily along the Atlantic coast from northeastern Canada, south to Florida, and along the Gulf of Mexico to Texas. The larvae tolerate living in the saline wetlands that line the coastal shores, from dense marshes covering many square miles, to shallow pools fed by rainwater and high tides, and they can also be found inland in isolated brackish waters.

As mosquitoes go, Aedes sollicitans is easily recognizable even to the beginning laboratory surveillance technician. The abdomen is dark-scaled with pale bands on the base of each segment and a pale “racing stripe” of scales down the center. The legs are also dark, marked with broad white bands at the base of each segment and an additional pale band ringing the middle of the first tarsal segment. The primarily black proboscis is also marked by a distinct band of white scales ringing the middle. These contrasting patterns of dark and pale scales give the species a distinct appearance – quite handsome.

Females of this species are aggressive biters, taking blood-meals from many kinds of animals including birds, reptiles, and mammals – especially humans. The species name sollicitans is Latin, meaning “vexing” or “disturbing.” They bite aggressively day or night, and even mosquitoes that are resting in the tall grasses by day will quickly take flight once disturbed and attack anyone walking thru the area. However, the feature that makes this species especially challenging is their extremely long flight distances. From April through October (and often year-round in the southern regions), large, fierce populations of saltmarsh mosquitoes can be found more than 30 miles inland from the nearest coastal swamp, with reports of individuals as far as 100 miles from their likely larval habitats.

john bernhardt smithLet’s turn back the clock for a moment to the late 1800’s, when science was only beginning to discover that some mosquitoes vector diseases and their nuisance biting was the main concern. It was also widely believed that mosquito adults never traveled far from the water where they lived as larvae. John B. Smith, former assistant entomologist at the Smithsonian in Washington DC, was hired by Rutgers University to serve as an entomologist at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station in New Brunswick. A young man in his early thirties, Dr. Smith was soon faced with an annual summer infestation of saltmarsh mosquitoes that chased tourists and potential homeowners away from growing coastal resorts. He determined that the adult female mosquitoes biting him at his home likely flew there from as far as 40 miles away. It was immediately clear that any successful control measures would need to be coordinated regionally, focusing on the distant coastal marshes that served as the source of infestations experienced further inland. The early 1900s saw extensive draining of coastal marshlands and larval control using kerosene and other petroleum products to suffocate the surface-breathing larvae. Within just a few seasons, saltmarsh mosquito numbers fell to a tolerable level, allowing summer outdoor activity to be pleasant again.

Coming back to the 21st century, Aedes sollicitans continues to be a challenging species to control along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf shore. Environmentally, complete marsh draining is generally not the best mosquito control measure due to the high value of coastal wetlands for many forms of wildlife, terrestrial and marine. Instead, open marsh water management techniques utilize ditches to connect shallow mosquito habitats to larger permanent waterbodies, eliminating standing water and giving natural predators such as fish access to mosquito larval habitats. Since the use of surface oils also destroys many non-target organisms, today bacterial larvicides are the pesticide of choice, often applied from the air over the larger, harder to access marsh areas.

We also now realize that the Eastern Saltmarsh Mosquito isn’t just a nuisance species. Aedes sollicitans is a competent vector of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and dog heartworm, and both of these diseases are a serious concern throughout the species’ range. Today, the nuisance mosquito responsible for the beginnings of coordinated, large-scale, regional mosquito control programs in the USA is also targeted for its disease potential.

An important component of any successful Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) program is mosquito identification. Should you have any questions regarding mosquito identification, Vector Disease Control International (VDCI) may be able to help.

Contact Us to Learn More About Effective Mosquito Management Strategies:

VDCI_Logo_squareSince 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.

2015 Mosquito-Borne Disease Year in Review: From Encephalitis To The West Nile Virus

Mosquito-Borne Diseases In the U.S. in 2015

 In 2015, we saw a continuation of serious mosquito-borne disease cases in the United States. This blog covers three of many diseases that were transmitted by mosquitoes in 2015: West Nile Virus (WNV), Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), and chikungunya. These three represent the most common mosquito-borne diseases we find in the United States, with WNV being far and away from the most common threat in U.S. territories. All of the information in this year’s review post was taken from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s data points and website as of 12/31/2015.

West Nile Virus (WNV):

WNV is the most common virus transmitted by mosquitoes to humans in the United States. While most infected people will have no symptoms, roughly one in five will develop symptoms that may include a combination of fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, or swollen lymph nodes. Other symptoms may include a stiff neck, sleepiness, disorientation, or even paralysis.

In 2015, 48 out of 50 states reported WNV infections in people, mosquitoes, or birds. In those states, 2,060 cases of WNV were reported in humans, and there were 119 confirmed deaths (5.8%) in 2015. This is in line with 2014 data, which had 2,205 human cases of WNV and 97 deaths (4.4%). Keep an eye out for a future blog post with much greater detail about WNV and its effect on humans, as well as on bird populations.

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE):

EEE is also transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, but is, fortunately, a rare illness for humans, with only a few cases reported in the United States each year. Although some people infected with EEE have no apparent illness, severe cases of EEE lead to inflammation of the brain, often beginning with a high fever, headaches, and vomiting. The illness will often progress into disorientation, seizures, or coma. EEE is a severe mosquito-transmitted disease, with about a 33% mortality rate. Additionally, even survivors can develop significant brain damage.

As of Nov. 17, the CDC reported five cases of EEE nationally in 2015: one in Louisiana, one in Maine, and three in New York. The Maine case and two of the New York cases were fatal. An average of eight EEE cases is reported each year in the United States, with 15 cases in 2012 and 8 cases in 2013 (2014 statistics presently unavailable). Keep an eye out for a future blog post with much greater detail about EEE and the many ways in which Vector Disease Control International (VDCI) helps prevent the spread of this deadly disease.

Chikungunya:

Traditionally, chikungunya outbreaks have occurred in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Since 2013, chikungunya has been found in the Americas on islands in the Caribbean. Since then, about 1.5 million cases have been reported in the Americas. Symptoms are most often a high fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include muscle pain, joint swelling, and headaches. Joint pain can often be debilitating, but thankfully, chikungunya is rarely fatal. Mosquitoes become infected when they bite someone already infected with the virus, and then infected mosquitoes spread the virus to other people they bite.

In 2015, 679 chikungunya virus disease cases were reported in 44 states. All reported cases occurred in travelers returning from affected areas, and importantly, no locally-transmitted cases have yet been reported from U.S. states in 2015. In 2014, a total of 2,811 chikungunya virus cases were reported from U.S. states, with twelve locally transmitted cases being reported from Florida. All other cases occurred in travelers returning from affected areas. Stay tuned for a future blog post with much greater detail about chikungunya and the ways VDCI helps prevent the spread of this potentially debilitating disease.

Zika:

Zika appears to be a growing threat for U.S. citizens traveling to South America and possibly Florida. Therefore, stay tuned for more information on that virus in the coming months.

Contact Us to Learn More About Effective Mosquito Management Strategies:

VDCI_Logo_squareSince 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.

Fight the Bite for a Bite: A Source Reduction Strategy

Aedes_aegypti_Adult_Mosquitoes

Reducing Mosquito Breeding Habitats

In my local community of Ruston, Louisiana, my biggest concern as a mosquito biologist is not the Culex species that is associated with West Nile Virus (WNV), but the Aedes albopictus species of mosquitoes (and Aedes aegypti, which we no longer have in Ruston).

I don’t want to downplay Culex species and the potentially deadly role they play in the transmission of many diseases, but I do want to make you aware of Aedes mosquitoes and how they are potentially life threatening as well. Dengue (den’ gee) and Chikungunya (chik-en-gun-ye) are two of the newest mosquito-borne viruses to hit the United States, and they are vectored by mosquitoes we have right here in Ruston, LA.

I have been with VDCI since the start of our services in my hometown of Ruston, LA.  Part of my job is to track mosquito populations and species throughout the city.  While we have experienced some WNV, we have been able to locate most of the large source breeding spots of Culex and work with the City of Ruston to clean up and clean out these areas for permanent source reduction.  This has greatly increased our ability to manage the Culex populations in Ruston.  Credit goes to the City for their willingness to work with us on these types of projects, because unfortunately, most cities do not have the ability or desire to undertake such tasks.  While I have watched the Culex population dwindle in this area, I have also seen Aedes albopictus populations grow to large numbers.  Knowing that we have the vectors (mosquitoes that are competent in the transmission of a virus), we decided that we should do some proactive work in getting these mosquitoes to manageable numbers. 

There are many challenges that we face in managing Ae. albopictus.  The first challenge is that most of these mosquitoes are grown by the residents that live here.  If you have standing water in any container around your home —  most people do and don’t even realize it — in a matter of a few days these mosquitoes will start hatching off.  Another challenge is that these mosquitoes are active during the daylight hours.  The majority of mosquitoes are active after the sun goes down; therefore, in order to get the best results with our treatment applications, we target our spray missions at night when they’re active and non-target organisms are not. Since Ae. albopictus are not active in the evening hours, we miss our opportunity to control them with our adulticide products.  However, not all Ae. albopictus are home-grown: many are growing in litter, tires, and other artificial containers that are scattered throughout abandoned properties, wooded areas, and even some roadside ditches (especially in neighborhoods that aren’t as well maintained).

You may be asking why we don’t spray during the daytime hours when this pesky mosquito is active. There are a few reasons for that.  First, as any good mosquito biologist would tell you, it should always be used as a last resort in controlling any mosquito population.  Second, we do most of our spraying after the sun goes down in part due to the inversion factor. The inversion factor simply means that throughout the day heat is released from the asphalt and concrete that make up our roads.  After the sun goes down, a layer of cooler air settles over the ground and traps the air close to the surface, rather then allowing it to continually rise up.  Because our trucks are calibrated so that each droplet of chemical delivers a lethal dose to each flying mosquito it comes in contact with, we need these droplets to remain airborne for as long as possible. So, spraying during the daytime hours would diminish the amount of time the product is available, as well as be more harmful to non-target insects.

Earlier in the year, we asked the City of Ruston if they would be willing to work with us on a volunteer and community outreach project, one that would help clean up one of our neighborhoods by gathering trash and tires. By removing tires from the area, we permanently remove major breeding sources of Ae. albopictus. We planned our event to be held in a park local to the neighborhood that we were targeting.  In a matter of four hours, we collected 96 tires and 4 bags of trash!  In return for those who volunteered to help, VDCI provided a hot dog meal and distributed as much educational material on mosquitoes as one could want! Since our event, we have been contacted by other neighborhoods in Ruston that want us to do have a similar tire drive for their area.  It is very exciting to watch people volunteer to make a difference and learn some helpful tips about what they can do to control the mosquito population in their own backyards. The event was a huge success and we look forward to hosting similar events throughout the communities we serve.  

Should you have any questions regarding source reduction or would like more information about partnering in a ‘Fight the Bite for a Bite’ event, please contact Vector Disease Control International (VDCI).

Contact Us to Learn More About Effective Mosquito Management Strategies:

VDCI_Logo_squareSince 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.

Public Education 101

Written By Cristina Flores, Regional Director
 

Public Education 1

Public education is an important part of a mosquito control program.  Mosquito control professionals can only do so much, and this is why they rely on a well-educated public in order to have a successful mosquito control program.  Educating the public allows citizens to:

 

1. Be a part of the mosquito control effort

2. Understand the mosquito control program 

 

1. Be a part of the mosquito control effort:

Mosquito control professionals create a partnership with local governments, schools, churches, and other entities to educate the public on mosquito biology.   The more the citizens know, the more information the citizens can provide their mosquito control departments or contractors to help identify active mosquito population areas.  Teams can be dispatched to perform surveillance or treatments as needed.

 

Also, there are many activities the public or homeowners can do on their own to reduce mosquito populations on their property.  Actions that can help limit mosquito breeding on private property can include:

  •          Dump standing water
  •          Eliminate areas that may collect standing water
  •          Aerate or circulate areas of stagnant water where possible