Page 34 - LIN_December 2022

MOSQUITO CONTROL MATERIALS:

Q & A USING FACTS, NOT FICTION

by Patrick Linn, MS, MSHAPI / Executive Director, Collier Mosquito Control District

s in previous years, Southwest Florida continued to see rapid to treat the column of air where mosquitoes are active (not the ground)
growth in 2022. Many of our new neighbors have relocated and is almost invisible because of the extremely small droplet size.
Afrom parts of the country where mosquito control isn’t as nec- The droplets are measured at approximately 20-30 microns (e.g., one
essary. In this brief article, I’ll address some of the more commonly human hair is about 100 microns in size). Because of the tiny droplet
posed questions about mosquito control we receive at Collier Mosquito size, rarely do any of the microscopic droplets make it to ground level.
Control District, as well as provide facts to help dispel misinformation. If they do, they dissipate quickly.
Q: Why do mosquitoes need to be “controlled” here? Q: Do the District’s control materials cause cancer?
A: In simple terms, mosquitoes are so abundant here that they pose a A: It is exceptionally important to understand the relative risk of
significant threat to public health and comfort year-round. exposure to the control products the District uses. When reviewing a
With more than 50 species of mosquitoes identified and present in Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS, aka SDS), any risks to one’s health
Collier County, the impact of not controlling mosquitoes here would refers to that of the handler, not to the public. It is a misconception
exert significant negative effects on public health, tourism, and the to say that the public whom we serve would be at the same level of
larger economy. Some species are seasonal while others are present year- health risk as one directly handling the pesticide. The District always
round. The District monitors five of the species very closely because complies with label guidance and limitations. Further, our employ-
of their ability to transmit diseases endemic to Southwest Florida and ees always comply with MSDS guidelines when handling, preparing,
other subtropical climates, including dengue fever, West Nile virus, and/or loading materials. According to current research, residents are
encephalitis, and yellow fever. not in danger of contracting cancer from mosquito control materials
Q: What materials do you use to control mosquitoes? applied infrequently and at such low amounts. To be sure, it is very
A: The District uses only EPA registered, approved, and regulated unlikely that any resident will come into direct contact at all with any
Keep Florida Florida
control materials. Three materials are currently used to control adult of the products we use. All insecticides used in the United States for Keep
mosquitoes: Duet HD (a pyrethroid), Dibrom (active ingredient naled, public health protection have been approved and registered by the EPA
an organophosphate), and Merus 3.0 (an organic pyrethroid). To control following careful review of data regarding their use.
larval—or juvenile—mosquitoes in water, the District uses a number Q: Will the materials affect people or pets? What if it is inhaled or if
red
of products containing either spinosad or Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis it lands on the skin?
subspecies israelensis). The labels of each control material used can be A: The likelihood of any direct contact with mosquito control products red
found on the District’s website. by our citizens and their pets/animals is very low. Unless a person is
very sensitive to or has a specific allergy to a chemical, washing the skin
When applying control materials for with soap and water after a presumed exposure is all that is needed.
adult mosquitoes by airplane or Given the ultra-low volume of material applied by the District, no expo-
helicopter, CMCD uses less than one sure and no symptoms should be experienced. That said, any individual
ounce per acre of material, which is concerned about exposure should consult a physician at their earliest
equivalent to about one-half shot glass convenience. A simple blood test will determine if any exposure has
of liquid over a football field-size area.
occurred.
Q: How much material is applied during one of your treatments? Q: Why are treatments applied at night?
A: On a per-acre basis, the District always applies material within the A: The answer is two-fold: That’s when mosquitoes are most active
label rate prescribed. When the District uses airplanes or helicopters and the atmosphere is most conducive to treatment. Have you noticed
to apply control materials for adult, flying mosquitoes, the application most mosquitoes aren’t as active during daylight hours? Their activity
systems are calibrated for an Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) rate. The appli- is heightened from dusk to dawn, so applying adulticide treatments
cation rate is less than 1 ounce per acre, equivalent to half a shot glass after sunset is the most effective time to “knock down” the mosqui-
of liquid poured over an area the size of a football field. A typical aerial toes. Another important reason for nighttime applications is to avoid
application will treat more than 30,000 acres and take approximately affecting beneficial pollinators not active at night, including bees, Collier County Citizens Values
two hours to complete. The material is applied from an altitude of 300' dragonflies, and butterflies.
Political Action Committee

Normally, the District offers public tours of our facilities to learn more about our operations, but
CCCVPACAC
CCCVP
Hurricane Ian delivered nearly three feet of storm surge through our campus. All buildings are in
a state of restoration and are not habitable, which is the primary reason the District is building a To learn more or to support
hangar at the Immokalee airport—to serve as a safe haven during storms to ensure uninterrupted
service to our community. However, our Outreach team conducts presentations at group meetings. our cause go to cccvpac.org
Please call our office at 239.436.1000 to request a presentation or if we can provide more information. info@cccvpac.org

34 Life in Naples December 2022