Cache Mosquito Abatement District

Larvaciding

¨ Kills larval/pupal stage mosquitoes

¨ Far more effective

¨ Adds a long-term element

¨ Invisible to the public

 

 

To understand larvaciding it is important to know about a mosquito larva’s anatomy and life cycle.

 

 

 

 

 

They breathe from one spot, and they do NEED to breathe, so we can suffocate them.

 

Larvae also need to eat, so we can poison them.

 

Larvae can be surprisingly fragile; disturbing the water for a little while will kill them (keep the water circulating/running).

 

Suffocation is the only sure-fire method of getting a good kill.  Even the pupal stage mosquitoes need to breathe.  CMAD uses an oil-based product that is sprayed onto the water.  This then spreads out and suffocates the mosquitoes.  The products we use are not harmful to cattle or waterfowl.

 

Insecticide is the next option in larvaciding.  Actually what CMAD uses the most isn’t any kind of toxic chemical, but a bacterium called Bti, which is short for Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis.  This bacteria has a byproduct that, when ingested by larvae, is most harmful.  Digesting the crystal made by Bti is similar to digesting a big razor blade; it cuts up the digestive tract of the larvae and kills them.

 

For extreme situations where the larva are thick and Bti won’t kill quick enough or in large enough numbers we can also use something call Abate.  This is an organophosphate and is toxic to fish, but not to cattle or waterfowl.  We will always try to be aware of the aquatic life in ponds.  Luckily fish like to eat mosquito larvae, so an infestation that would require Abate will not likely have fish in the area.

 

One other method we can employ is Altosid.  These briquettes inhibit the growth of larva into adult mosquitoes.  We use these sparingly because of the financial expense even though they are extremely effective.

Cache MAD

PO Box 466

Hyde Park, UT 84318

 

435-764-6839

cachemosquito@cachemosquito.com

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