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Mosquito Abatement FAQ

Can mosquitoes survive over winter?

Mosquito species can live anywhere from two weeks to two months, but adults of certain species can survive over the winter. These are typically the first mosquitoes active in the spring. Other species overwinter as eggs and can be dormant for as many as three years.

What is larviciding?

Ada County strives to control mosquitoes before or immediately after eggs hatch and the mosquito is in the larva stage. Our larviciding crews monitor nearly 68,000 acres of water at over 48,000 specific sites throughout Ada County, and crews will treat these water bodies with bio-agents or chemicals if they find mosquito larva. Larviciding can reduce the overall pesticide usage in Ada County’s Integrated Mosquito Management program (monitoring for mosquitoes, larviciding and adulticiding). By reducing mosquito larvae before they emerge as adults, it reduces or eliminates the need for ground or aerial application of pesticides to kill adult mosquitoes in the event of critical WNV levels.

Are the chemicals you use to larvicide dangerous?

The pesticides used for larvicide applications are biological controls that specifically target the larvae or pupae stages of mosquitoes, and do not pose a risk for aquatic species or mammals.

What is adulticiding?

Adulticiding is the dispersal of ultra-low volume pesticides, using a fogger spraying with a fine mist, to control adult mosquito populations. Crews are dispatched with fogging trucks following the trapping of a high number of mosquitoes in a survey location, when WNV is detected in a specific trap, or upon receipt of a public request for service.

Will your chemicals hurt my fish?

Larvicide agents do not affect fish, but our adulticide products may have an effect on certain species, so we are careful and aware of product movement direction with local climate and environmental conditions.

What do I do if I have a fish pond?

If you have a fish pond, you can contact us so that we can put it on our map and we won’t treat within 100 feet of your pond.

Will your fogging kill my bees?

Only if the bees are out flying, but Ada County only fogs after dusk and into the evenings after bees have already returned to the hive.

What do I do if I have bee hives?

Contact us at (208) 577-4646 and we can put your beehive locations in our mapping program to avoid the immediate area as a safety precaution, and be sure to register your hives with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.

Does your fogging hurt beneficial insects?

No, we use an ultra-low volume fogger that releases micron-sized droplets in the evenings. These droplets are so small that one drop can kill a mosquito, but does not have a fatal effect on larger insects like dragonflies, butterflies or moths.

Does it cost me anything at time of service?

No, we do not charge a service fee. All activities within the mosquito abatement district are covered in your property taxes if you live within the mosquito district.

Will you fog my property every night?

No, that is too often according to the insecticide label. Under normal conditions, the maximum frequency of spraying the same area is twice per week, unless West Nile virus has been confirmed within that area via our surveillance. This is to prevent the mosquitoes from building a resistance to our fogging insecticide.

What are Dibrom and aerial applications?

Dibrom is an organophosphate insecticide with the active ingredient Naled. This product has been registered for use in the United States by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. When applied in accordance with the label, the products can be used to kill mosquitoes without posing unreasonable risks to human health or the environment.

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