Products Utilized For The Management Of Mosquito Populations
All products selected for use by VDCI are registered by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the specific regulatory agency in the state where the product is used. These products are widely utilized in many mosquito abatement programs across the country because of their efficacy and minimal environmental impacts. VDCI carefully selects these products with the goal of protecting both people and the natural environment while economically reducing nuisance and disease-vector mosquitoes to tolerable levels.
Larvicides
What are the environmental impacts of larvicides?
VDCI’s most frequently used larval control products are Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis) and Bsph (Bacillus sphaericus), which are target-specific biological products toxic to mosquito and black fly larvae. The bacteria contained in Bti and Bsph occur naturally in the soil and both of these soil bacteria can be digested by mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and nearly all aquatic invertebrates without causing harm. The primary benefit of using these products is the reduction of mosquito larvae at a reasonable cost without negatively impacting the natural environment.
How does Bti work?
The Bti bacterium produces a protein crystal that is toxic only to mosquitoes, black flies, and certain midge larvae. VDCI uses liquid, granular, and briquet formulations of these products. The crystals are carried on corn cob granules and separated from the corn cob when the product hits the water surface. Because the larvae must ingest the bacteria, the granular and liquid formulations must be applied where water is present. The crystals are dissolved and converted into toxic proteins in the alkaline environment of the mosquito’s gut. These toxic proteins destroy the larval intestinal lining and ultimately cause the larvae to die within 24-48 hours after ingestion.
Adulticides
The primary active ingredient in VDCI’s most frequently used adulticide is permethrin. Permethrin is an insecticide in the pyrethroid chemical family. Pyrethroids (also known as synthetic pyrethroids) are man-made insecticides chemically similar to the pyrethrins found in natural pyrethrum. Natural pyrethrins are extracted from the flowers of the chrysanthemum plant, which have long been recognized for their insecticidal activity. Pyrethroids do not have the extent of adverse effects on non-target organisms that some other insecticide groups have. Pyrethroids are widely used in public health applications because of their relative safety for humans and other terrestrial vertebrates, high insecticidal potency at low dosages, and rapid knock-down effects.
Additional Pesticide Resources
For more extensive pesticide information please visit the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) website.
For Labels, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and more information, please contact the manufacturer/distributor listed with each product below:
Larval Mosquito Control Products
VectoBac
VectoLex
VectoMax
Altosid
FourStar
Adult Mosquito Control Products
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.