Mosquito and Fly Control

Health Departments, communities, HOAs, and homeowners seek to control mosquitoes biting flies for a number of reasons. These insects can be disease vectors for viruses like Zika or simply can be a nuisance when they gather in large populations. The pesticides registered for this use are known as adulticides, larvicides, and insect growth regulators (IGRs). They are applied either by aircraft or on the ground with truck-mounted sprayers. State and local agencies commonly use the organophosphate insecticides malathion and naled and the synthetic pyrethroid insecticides prallethrin, etofenprox, pyrethrins, permethrin, resmethrin, and sumithrin for professional mosquito control.

Mosquito adulticides are applied as ultra-low volume (ULV) sprays. ULV sprayers dispense very fine aerosol droplets that stay aloft and kill flying mosquitoes on contact. ULV applications involve small quantities of pesticide active ingredient in relation to the size of the area treated, typically less than 3 ounces per acre, which minimizes exposure and risks to people and the environment.

Adulticides can be used for public health mosquito control programs without posing risks of concern to the general population or to the environment when applied according to the pesticide label.