Adulticide

 

    Adulticiding is commonly referred to as "fogging" and is the final component of the Alamosa Mosquito Control District’s fully integrated pest management (IPM) operation.  We operate two truck-mounted ultra low volume (ULV) foggers for in-town treatments and an airplane for treatment in the rural areas of The District. We use handheld thermal foggers for backyard treatments, sites with abundant tree canopy and foliage, and other specific sites & requests.  Mosquitoes are most active in the evening when summer temperatures are cooling down for the night.  Therefore, in order for us to be effective and efficient, we spray from dusk until after midnight.

 

HOW WE MONITOR ADULT MOSQUITOES 

   Light traps are specifically designed using CO₂ to attract and trap adult mosquitoes.  During the season, we specifically place and operate 18-24 CDC photocell light traps throughout our District.  They are programmed to collect mosquitoes seven days a week.  The mosquito collection baskets are brought into the lab each morning, counted, and identified by species.  If the mosquito numbers exceed our designated thresholds, it warrants spraying either by truck-mounted ultra low volume (ULV) foggers or by aerial application in the rural areas of The District.  Knowing the mosquito species is also beneficial in terms of knowing what type of habitat the adults are hatching out of (helps with larvicide as well), or if the mosquito species are potential disease-carrying vectors in that area. 

 

HOW WE CONTROL ADULT MOSQUITOES

   If larval control fails, adult control will become necessary.  The chemicals used are non-restricted and considered by the EPA to be safe for you and your animals.  In addition, our district applies these chemicals at the lowest allotted rate given by the EPA.  Most are chemically similar to products that you can buy in the garden section of your local hardware store.  Our chemicals are applied by using handheld sprayers, backpack sprayers, and the foggers in our pickup trucks.  Please click on the Chemicals tab of our website to see the list of chemicals AMCD uses.  You will also be able to click on the links for each of their chemical labels and MSDS sheets.