- Home
- Government
- Departments
- Health
- Residents
- Mosquito Control
- Mosquito Control Methods
Mosquito Control Methods
Methods
Mosquito control methods include:
- Biological Control: A naturally occurring bacterium called BTI, which is toxic only to mosquito and black fly larvae, and is not toxic to beneficial insects.
- Chemical Control: Involves the application of pesticides to reduce the number of mosquitoes in an area. Pesticides can be used to control mosquitoes in various stages of their life cycle. Larvicides are used the most as they are the most efficient in controlling populations. Adulticides are used as a last resort, and only when nuisance threshold values have been exceeded or when mosquito-borne diseases are found.
- Cultural / Source Reduction: Involves practices which prevent water from standing for more than four days, such as repairing ditches to prevent seepage, clearing ditches of vegetation to promote rapid flow, and improving drainage channels in irrigated fields.
Control Schedule
The Kent City Health Department monitors the mosquito population in the City of Kent Ohio on a weekly basis from May through September annually. This is done by surveying large areas of standing water for mosquito larva. If active mosquito larvae are found, they are treated using Teknar CG and Spheratax SPH, which are naturally occurring bacteria and/or Altosid Briquets, which is an insect growth inhibitor. Altosid interferes with the normal life cycle of the mosquito and prevents the development of adult mosquitoes from larvae. Areas in the City of Kent with excessive mosquito populations are sprayed in the evenings when mosquitoes are most active, with a permethrin based insecticide, using our truck equipped with a ultra low-volume mist sprayer.