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Reshaping the Mosquito Control Industry

Every year, new technologies emerge that help keep people safer, healthier, and happier. This includes technologies used in the mosquito management industry.

Vector-borne diseases spread by mosquitoes are responsible for killing more than one million people annually. That’s why the development of new innovations is key in the mission to prevent mosquitoes from endangering communities worldwide. 

When we choose to utilize advanced technologies, it’s because they enhance the accuracy, efficacy, and safety of our work. Here are some of the innovations we utilize as part of mosquito surveillance programs and Integrated Mosquito Management programs to help keep the communities we serve safe.

Without data, it’s difficult to understand the effectiveness of mosquito control efforts or fully demonstrate to stakeholders the financial return of their investment. It’s also more challenging to strategize an effective management plan. GIS mapping can be utilized in nearly every facet of an integrated mosquito management program, from tracking larval and adulticide applications to monitoring mosquito populations and disease data via mosquito surveillance equipment. Over time, this information can be analyzed to identify trends or patterns and determine the overall impact of treatment efforts.

arcmap_biggerBeyond the day to day operations of an IMM program, GIS technology has several other applications. GIS serves as a critical tool for regulatory compliance, as maps can be used to both assure compliance and also streamline requirements for initiatives like NPDES permitting. Through mosquito surveillance, maps that show disease monitoring in a given area can also be used to support public education and communications throughout the community. Lastly, federal, state, and local governments use GIS to aid in emergency response efforts.

Mosquito Surveillance Traps and Lab Analysis

Mosquito Surveillance & Disease Testing Reduce Mosquito-borne Disease 3Mosquito surveillance traps are not used to control adult mosquitoes; rather, they serve as an important mosquito surveillance tool for collecting data on species distribution, population dynamics, and calculating disease risk based on vector competence.

Our professionals utilize several types of mosquito surveillance traps, including the CDC Miniature Light Trap, Gravid Trap, BG-Sentinel, and New Jersey Light Trap, just to name a few.  Collection, counting, and identification of the mosquitoes through a mosquito surveillance program help staff determine which abatement solutions should be employed.  Once collected, mosquitoes also undergo professional testing and analysis at the lab. Oftentimes, the diseases mosquitoes can transmit can be detected in the mosquitoes themselves weeks before they can be passed on to their human and animal hosts. This gives mosquito management experts a window of opportunity to take action to reduce the risk of human disease transmission in the local community and is one of the reasons that mosquito surveillance programs are so vital.

Mosquito management professionals utilize several technologies when conducting larviciding and adulticiding applications. Data gathered from mosquito surveillance programs ensures that we are spraying in the right places and at the right time.

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Ground Application Technology

For smaller areas, crews may choose to perform ground applications using either backpacks or power sprayers capable of holding 2-100 gallons of product.  Whether an application is done by hand or with specialized truck-based equipment, they’re calibrated frequently, and all applications are recorded in VDCI”s proprietary database.  

Planes

For large areas that need to be treated quickly or places you simply can’t access with vehicles, aerial fleets are the go-to option. VDCI operates one of the world’s largest aerial fleets dedicated to mosquito control and services customers from coast to coast.

Aerial Spraying Malcom 9

Aircraft equipped for adult mosquito control utilize the Wingman® GX spray optimization and guidance software in addition to an AIMMS-20 onboard meteorological probe to ensure the most effective application possible. This integrated system is the only scientifically validated one of its kind that incorporates constant real-time meteorological data at the release height to optimize the entire application. This optimization ensures that the maximum spray cloud droplet density is delivered to the target zones, thus providing you with the maximum level of mosquito control.

Each member of VDCI’s flight crew is highly trained and licensed through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Crews utilize military-grade ANVIS -6 night vision goggles on all nighttime spray missions to increase visibility and accuracy. At the completion of each spray mission, data is downloaded from the aircraft, and reports are generated, providing our customers with a visual depiction of the spray mission, along with the vital statistics of each spray.

Unmanned Aerial Drones

Recent advancements in drone technology have provided a new way to reach and treat areas that were previously inaccessible via ground or plane.

drones mosquito management

Our drones are custom-built by Leading Edge Aerial Technologies, Inc. for commercial applications. Each drone exhibits a 6ft wingspan and is equipped with superior features that are operated remotely by a professional team. Drones are supported by GPS technology to access mapped target sites and guide precision applications using granular products. They are also configured with state-of-the-art software that blocks filming, so homeowners can have peace of mind while drone applications occur nearby.

VDCI Remains At The Forefront of Vector Industry Advancements

VDCI is committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements in mosquito surveillance and mosquito control, and creating new standards for safety and efficiency. We employ a wide array of technology, ranging from mosquito surveillance tools to advanced software systems to state-of-the-art application equipment, to provide you with the most comprehensive mosquito surveillance and management services possible. Contact or call our experts at 800-413-4445 to discuss the most effective control solutions for your community.

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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.