Services
Alamosa Mosquito Control District is a fully integrated mosquito management program using conscientious, economic and environmentally sensitive practices consisting of surveillance, larvicide, adulticide, and West Nile Virus testing.
Surveillance
The Alamosa Mosquito Control District (AMCD) operates as a fully integrated pest management (IPM) program. Though there is no universal definition for IPM, it is often defined as a system designed to employ acceptable economic, ecological and toxicological techniques to reduce the negative impact of pest species to an acceptable level. The AMCD achieves an IPM through surveillance, larvicide control, adulticide control and public outreach.
IPM Program Includes:
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Strategically setting mosquito traps throughout the district
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Traps collect 24/7
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Collected daily
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Counted
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Identified by species
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Tests for West Nile twice a week
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Directing larvicide crews to specific treatment areas
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Determining threshold values for adulticide treatment areas
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Finding mosquito habitat
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RAMP testing detects the presence of West Nile virus which directs additional treatment programs
Larvicide
Larviciding plays the biggest role in terms of the Alamosa Mosquito Control District’s (AMCD) IPM. Approximately 65% - 70% of our District’s mosquito control efforts are geared toward larvicide control. The goal is to control mosquito larvae populations by eliminating them while they are still in condensed areas and in their growth (non-biting) stages.
All Larvicide products used are bacteria-based and specifically toxic to mosquito larvae only. The bacteria does not affect any other aquatic organisms, animals, livestock or pets.
Factors
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Thresholds: the size of the body of water vs. the number of mosquito larvae found per dip
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Type of habitat: clear water vs. abundant growth (grass, weeds, algae, cattails, etc.)
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Larval growth stage
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Water's last treatment date
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Average daily temperature
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How soon the site will dry up
How We Monitor Mosquito Larvae
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Overflow Ponds
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Flood irrigated fields
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Pockets of standing water
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Cattle hoof prints
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Storm drains
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Discarded tires, drink containers and steel cans
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Rain gutters
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Bird baths
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Kid's swimming pools, etc.
Adulticide is the final component of the Alamosa Mosquito Control District's fully integrated pest management (IPM) operation. We operate three fog trucks, as well as two side by sides in areas not accessible with a truck. 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.
The products used are NON-RESTRICTED and considered by the EPA to be safe for YOU and your ANIMALS. In addition, our district applies these products at the lowest allotted rate given by EPA.