Materials used to treat for Mosquitos
Larvicides
Larvicides are materials which kill immature mosquitoes before they hatch out of the water and become a nuisance to people. Our program uses several different types of larvicides depending upon the situation that is encountered. Bti or Bacillus thuringensis variety israeliensis is a natural soil borne bacterium discovered over 40 years ago. It acts by creating a crystal protein in the mid gut of mosquito larvae which causes mortality. It is highly selective to mosquitoes with little environmental impact. This
bacterium is inoculated onto ground corn cob medium and applied aerially or by hand seed spreaders. B. sphaericus is quite similar to Bti, but has a longer residual action and performs better in highly organic environments like sewage lagoons. The method of application is also identical to Bti.
Abate 5% Is an organophosphate insecticide imbedded in a plaster pellet. This pellet carrier releases the substance over a period of time to control larvae. It is applied by seed spreader to scrap tires or other artificial containers that do not have a free exchange of water with the surrounding environment.
Pupacides
Golden Bear is the pupacide employed by our program. It consists of a highly refined mineral oil with a surfactant added. This causes the substance to spread out in a thin film on the surface of a puddle. Pupae require air and this layer prevents their respiration which in turn causes mortality. Mosquito pupae do not feed and since larvicides must be ingested, this is the only way to eliminate mosquitoes during this life stage. The film is subject to photodegredation in sun light and is gone in a day or two.
Adulticides
Malathion is the adulticide we use for thermal fogging of individual residences. It is toxic to insects because they lack an enzyme which humans and animals posses. This enzyme removes the chemical from our systems while mosquitoes can not metabolize the substance and succumb.
Anvil 2+2 is our primary material used in the truck mounted units. It is a synthetic pyrethroid that provides better control in cooler temperature environments. These substances were originally obtained from flowers. Truck mounted foggers emit fog droplets in the size range of 12 to 18 microns. This size is enough to be lethal to mosquitoes, but is typically sub-lethal to insects with a larger body mass like bees.
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