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E-52-W

Household & Public Health

Department of Entomology

MOSQUITO MANAGEMENT BY TRAINED PERSONNEL

Ralph E. Williams, Extension Entomologist; Michael J. Sinsko, Public
Health Entomologist, Indiana State Department of Health; and
Gary W. Bennett, Extension Entomologist

More than 50 species of mosquitoes are present in Home" <http://www.entm.purdue.edu/entomology/ext/

Indiana. The biting of most species is simply annoying. targets/e-series/EseriesPDF/E-26.pdf>. But steps taken
However, certain species (especially in the genera Culex by individual homeowners will not completely eradicate
and Aedes) can threaten public health because of their the problem. To reduce annoyance and public health
ability to transmit viruses that cause human encephalitis. concerns, mosquito management should be undertaken
Several such viruses have caused disease outbreaks in on an area-wide basis by trained personnel.
various parts of the U.S. over the last few years. In 1975,
a strain of virus produced an epidemic of St. Louis MOSQUITO BREEDING AND DEVELOPMENT
Encephalitis in Indiana causing illness and death in Mosquitoes always develop in water, but the type of
several counties. This virus is transmitted from birds to breeding place varies with the species. Common breed-
humans by mosquitoes. A limited number of mosquitoes ing places are flood waters, woodland pools, and slowly
can transmit the virus, and prime concern is centered on
species of Culex mosquitoes.
Other mosquito-borne viruses that have been of
concern in Indiana include those that are responsible for
causing such diseases as La Crosse fever, Eastern
equine encephalitis, and Western equine encephalitis. Adult
Larva
Recent concern has focused on the spread of West Nile
virus. With this virus, like many of the other mosquito-
borne encephalitis viruses, wild birds serve as the reser-
voir. Mosquitoes feed on infected birds and transmit the
virus to other birds. Infected birds may become ill and
recover or may exhibit no noticeable symptoms. Wild
birds may also die of the infection, however. Crow mor-
tality has been high.
The virus becomes widespread in the wild bird Pupa
population by midsummer, when mosquitoes are abun-
dant. The likelihood that mosquitoes will become in-
fected and transmit the virus to dead-end hosts such as
people and horses is highest between July and late
October. A few Culex species are the probable vectors of
West Nile virus. Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito)
is also of concern.
Steps that can be taken to protect individuals and
their homes are described in the Purdue Extension
publication E-26, "Mosquito Control in and Around the Mosquito adult, larva and pupa
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moving streams and ditches, particularly if these moving
waters are polluted with organic waste. They also de-
velop in any container that holds water, such as tree
cavities, rain barrels, fish ponds, house gutters, down-
spouts, bird baths, old tires, tin cans, and catch basins.
Mosquitoes lay eggs on the surface of water or in low
places where water is likely to accumulate. The eggs may
hatch in fewer than three days or when flooding occurs.
The larvae, commonly called "wiggle-tails," mature in 7 to
10 days and change into a pupa or "tumbler" stage. Two
or three days later, adult mosquitoes emerge. After
taking a blood meal, each female lays 100 to 200 or more
eggs. The entire life cycle, depending upon temperature,
may be completed in as few as 7 to 10 days.
AREA-WIDE MANAGEMENT
Mosquito management on an area-wide basis is a
complex problem that should be attempted only by pro-
fessionals. The administration of community programs
must be flexible. This flexibility should, however, be
based upon the established principles of good mosquito
management. A number of techniques are available,
depending upon the target species involved and the
priorities that have been established. For example, the
control of species involved as disease vectors can be
quite a different problem from that of species that are
strictly nuisance biters.
Health Education
All good public health programs must include education
of the public for understanding and support. This is
especially important with mosquitoes, because
homeowners can help greatly by managing their own
property to eliminate mosquito breeding sources. In
areas where extensive breeding occurs in containers on
private property, the effectiveness of any community-
wide effort directed at public property alone will be greatly
reduced. It is, therefore, of utmost importance to inform
the citizens of the ways in which they can help.
Survey for Breeding Places
An effective community-wide mosquito management
program cannot be planned or conducted until a survey
is made to locate the major breeding places of problem
mosquitoes. This takes a great deal of time and work but
is well worth the effort. Though mosquitoes usually
require standing water for breeding, it is not true that
mosquitoes will be produced in every body of standing
water. A survey will identify those breeding sites that
must be eliminated or treated. This will avoid unneces-
sary environmental and monetary costs. Because the
most efficient management programs concentrate on the
control of mosquito larvae rather than adult mosquitoes,
the survey is an essential prerequisite.
Any site that accumulates standing water should be
examined for possible mosquito breeding. Visual inspec-
tion of sites should be made, and mosquito larvae should
be sampled with "mosquito dippers" for species identifi-
cation. Sites identified as actively breeding mosquitoes
should be noted for follow-up control efforts.
Adult mosquito surveillance measures mosquitoes
populations that have successfully developed and
emerged from aquatic habitats. Use of light traps (e.g.,
New Jersey light trap, CDC light trap) are standard tools
for adult sampling. Landing counts can also be used.
For training opportunities in mosquito surveillance
techniques and species identification, contact the
Indiana State Department of Health
<msinsko@isdn.state.in.us> for available sessions.
Source Reduction and Habitat Alteration
Many mosquito problems can be permanently reduced
by either eliminating breeding places or altering the
habitat in such a way as to reduce the numbers of larvae
that can be supported. This might mean cleaning a
shoreline of vegetation that provides natural harborage
for larvae. Eliminating a source of organic pollution will
alter a breeding place to not only deprive larvae of
nutrients, but also to provide an environment in which
mosquito predators can survive and become estab-
lished. Under no circumstances should a body of water
be drained or an area filled until permission has been
obtained from the local drainage board and until it has
definitely been established that problem species breed in
it in sufficient numbers to cause problems.
The following practices may be used to reduce
mosquito breeding sites.
1. Ditch and clean stagnant streams to insure a con-
tinuous flow of water to eliminate border vegetation
that produces habitat for mosquito larvae to de-
velop.
2. Drain or fill back-water pools and swamps where
stagnant water accumulates. Sanitary landfills can
often be used in such locations, resulting in the
elimination of mosquito breeding sites and improv-
ing the value of the land. Check with the Indiana
State Department of Health, however, before estab-
lishing such landfills.
3. Because all mosquitoes breed in shallow quiet wa-
ter, remove vegetation and debris from along the
shores of lakes and ponds to discourage mosquito
breeding. Such bodies of water should have a steep
clean shoreline with as little vegetation as possible.
Weed killers may be used in some cases to eliminate
or prevent emergent plant growth. Refer to Purdue
Extension Publication WS-21 "Aquatic Pest Man-
agement" <http://www.agcom.purdue.edu/AgCom/
Pubs/WS/WS-21.html> for further information on
the use of aquatic herbicides.
4. Stock small lakes and ponds with top-feeding min-
nows if allowable.
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5. Improve wetlands and marshes to encourage devel-
opment of mosquito predators (e.g., frogs, predatory
insects, predatory fish).
CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
The use of chemicals is, at best, a temporary expe-
dient that should be limited to only those situations for
which no other alternatives exist. In general, chemical
control can be divided into two major operations. The
first, larviciding, is the most efficient and effective, and
should be the backbone of any good chemical program.
The second, adulticiding, is less efficient and as such
should be used strictly for supplemental or emergency
purposes. The detection of active transmission of mos-
quito-borne disease is an example of such an emer-
gency. The Indiana State Department of Health routinely
monitors levels of arborvirus transmission throughout the
state and may be contacted for information on the status
of disease transmission.
A number of insecticides have been registered for
use in mosquito control. The relative value of chemical
control varies with the mosquito species and the location
conditions where control is to be applied. Because each
situation differs, care must be taken to select the proper
insecticide for a particular situation. Some of these fac-
tors include:
• Effectiveness against target species (resistance prob-
lems);
• Relative toxicity to humans and domestic animals
(impact on non-target organisms);
• Contamination of food, garden, or fruit;
• Cost;
• Availability in quantities needed;
• Need for residual action in some situations;
• Chemical stability;
• Flammability;
• Ease of preparation;
• Corrosiveness; and
• Offensive odor, staining, etc.
Resistance can be a problem in mosquito control,
especially when using organo-phosphate and pyrethroid
compounds. However, before assuming that resistance
is the cause of poor control, it must be established that
poor control is not caused by other factors such as
improper identification of mosquitoes, spray techniques,
lack of knowledge about insect habits, or faulty source
reduction procedures. Any decrease in susceptibility
should be substantiated in carefully controlled tests be-
fore seeking another toxicant or considering a change of
procedure.
PESTICIDE SAFETY MEASURES
The key to the safety of humans and other nontarget
organisms is knowledge of the hazards involved in han-
dling and applying pesticides.
All pesticides must be handled in such a way that any
possibility of harm to nontarget organisms (including
humans), either through contamination of food and water
or by contact, is kept to a minimum. Before using any
pesticide it is essential to first READ THE LABEL. In
preparing and applying the pesticide, FOLLOW ALL
DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY.
• Wear protective clothing to avoid prolonged or
dangerous exposure to pesticides.
• Take care to avoid contamination of foods or
drinking water of human and animals.
• Keep application equipment clean and in good
condition.
• Store pesticides only in their original containers
with the proper label and out of reach of children
and animals.
• Dispose of empty containers properly, and know
the emergency measures for treating accidental
poisoning and cleaning up of spills or other
pesticide contamination.
Many chemical insecticides registered for use in
mosquito control are toxic to birds, fish, and other wildlife,
so appropriate precautions must be taken. In addition,
most of these insecticides are toxic to bees exposed to
direct treatment or to residues on crops. In making
applications, care should be exercised to avoid getting
any of these insecticides on food or feed crop areas.
Instructions on the label will give precautions or restric-
tions while using insecticides for mosquito control.
LARVAL CONTROL
Mosquito breeding sites that are undesirable or
impossible to alter or eliminate may be treated with an
appropriate larvicide. Table 1 lists the insecticides rec-
ommended for use as mosquito larvicides in Indiana. The
application of larvicides should only be made at sites
where mosquito larvae of the proper target species are
present. In addition, the degree of control obtained with
larvicide applications often depends upon the amount of
pollution and the type and amount of vegetative cover
present. Some of the insecticides listed in Table 1 thus
have a range of application rates.
Where cover is heavy, granular formulations fre-
quently provide better control than emulsions or oil sprays.
Repeated treatments with some of these insecticides
may be needed, especially after heavy rainfall. Gener-
ally, three or four treatments each season will be needed.
For proper mixing instructions, application rates, and
precautions, all label directions should be read and
followed carefully. Application rates may vary depending
on the extent of vegetative cover and/or degree of pollu-
tion of the water to be treated.
Granular larvicides can be applied from the air if the
plane does not have to fly over populated areas. Gran-
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Table 1. Mosquito Larvicides for use in Indiana
Active Ingredient (Product) Available Formulations
methoprene (Altosid) briquets, pellets, sprays
temephos (Abate) pellets, granules, sprays
Bt - Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis
(Bactimos, Teknar, Vectobac)
granules, briquets, sprays
Bacillus sphaericus (Vectolex) granules
Golden Bear Oil spray
Agnique-monomolecular film spray
ules can also be applied by crank-operated spreaders
similar to those used for spreading seeds and fertilizers.
Knapsack or other hand sprayers that can be carried by
field workers may be used for liquid formulations. Power
sprayers may be satisfactory if advantage is taken of the
wind so that the larvicide drifts into larval-infested water
areas. Larvicide treatment of fish-bearing waters should
be avoided. Briquet, granular, and pellet formulations are
often preferred for use in catch basins and in containers
not easily disposed of.
ADULT CONTROL
Various application methods are available for adult
mosquito control. Thermal fogs can provide a rapid,
temporary control of adult mosquitoes with little residual
effect. Thermal fog generators break up the insecticide
by means of hot gases or superheated steam to produce
a fog or smoke. This method is effective only where there
is little or no wind in the evening or night. Malathion
(Fyfanon) is recommended for use with thermal fogging
equipment.
A more effective method of ground application is the
use of ULV (ultra low volume) cold aerosol equipment.
These machines produce a very tiny droplet of high
concentrate insecticide, which results in a greater area
coverage with less dosage. This type of application is
designed to kill active adult mosquitoes and provides little
or no residual control. Like the thermal fog generator, the
cold aerosol machine should be used during the time the
adult mosquitoes are most active. This means from
twilight until about midnight, when atmospheric condi-
READ AND FOLLOW ALL LABEL INSTRUCTIONS. THIS INCLUDES DIRECTIONS FOR USE, PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS (HAZARDS
TO HUMANS, DOMESTIC ANIMALS, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES), ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS, RATES OF APPLICATION, NUMBER
OF APPLICATIONS, REENTRY INTERVALS, HARVEST RESTRICTIONS, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL, AND ANY SPECIFIC WARNINGS AND/
OR PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFE HANDLING OF THE PESTICIDE.
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tions are usually best (lack of wind). ULV application is
generally the preferred space treatment for adult mos-
quito control.
The cold aerosol method has certain advantages
over thermal fog generators. Less insecticide is applied,
resulting in fewer pollution problems. Smaller holding
tanks and consequently smaller vehicles are needed
because smaller quantities of insecticide are used. There
is less of a traffic hazard compared with thermal fog
applications, which reduce visibility. ULV ground applica-
tions, however, are somewhat less effective than thermal
fogs in heavy vegetation, because the larger ULV drop-
lets tend to be filtered out more rapidly. Insecticides
recommended for use with ULV ground equipment in-
clude: permethrin (Biomist), chlorpyrifos (Dursban,
Mosquitomist), sumethrin (Anvil), malathion (Fyfanon),
synergized pyrethrins, and resmethrin (Scourge). (Note
that resmethrin is a restricted use insectcide.)
Application by fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter for
adult mosquito control is also a common practice. It is
useful under emergency conditions or if areas to be
controlled are too large or are inaccessible for economi-
cal treatment with ground powered equipment. Best
results are obtained in areas without dense tree cover so
that spray particles can penetrate the low shrub zone
where the greatest mosquito activity occurs. To obtain
uniform coverage of an area, careful observance of
preplanned flight patterns, altitudes, and air speeds is
essential.
Applications should not be made over a food or feed
crop area or populated areas unless the insecticide is
labelled for that use. Label directions regarding applica-
tion over fish-bearing waters should be followed. The
same insecticides for use with ground ULV equipment
can be considered for aerial treatment. For proper mixing
instructions, application rates, and precautions for any
insecticides used, all label directions should be read and
followed carefully.
Female mosquito
feeding
Revision 5/2002
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