FAQs • Solon, OH • CivicEngage

What is a larvicide?: Mosquitoes have a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult. A larvicide is a pesticide that kills the larvae directly before they mature. Larvicides are placed in stagnant water which is where mosquitoes prefer to lay their eggs for the larvae to hatch (e.g., catch basins or storm sewers). Larviciding reduces the adult mosquito populations that have the ability to act as carriers of the West Nile Virus.

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Service - Mosquitos

1. How are larvicides used in mosquito control?: State and local agencies in charge of mosquito control typically employ a variety of techniques in an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. An IPM approach includes surveillance, source reduction, larviciding and adulticiding to control mosquito populations. Since mosquitoes must have water to breed, source reduction can be as simple as turning over trapped water in a container to undertaking large-scale engineering and management of marsh water levels. Larviciding involves applying pesticides to breeding habitats to kill mosquito larvae. Larviciding can reduce overall pesticide usage in a control program. Killing mosquito larvae before they emerge as adults can reduce or eliminate the need for ground or aerial application of pesticides to kill adult mosquitoes.

2. Can I apply larvicides to catch basins located on my property?: No. Homeowners and owners of properties such as condominium and apartment complexes, parking lots shopping malls, schools, commercial and industrial properties. Pesticides need to be applied by licensed personal. The City of Solon and the EPA encourages property owners to use nonchemical mosquito prevention efforts.

3. What is adulticiding?: Adult mosquito control programs are necessary in disease situations such as encephalitis-stricken areas and in areas where a high density of pest mosquitoes occurs. The larger the area treated, the more successful the control. Adult mosquito populations can be temporarily reduced to less annoying levels

4. What is a catch basin?: Catch basins (also known as storm sewers) line urban streets to carry away water after rain fall. The lids of these catch basins are metal and have grates.

5. What is a larvicide?: Mosquitoes have a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult. A larvicide is a pesticide that kills the larvae directly before they mature. Larvicides are placed in stagnant water which is where mosquitoes prefer to lay their eggs for the larvae to hatch (e.g., catch basins or storm sewers). Larviciding reduces the adult mosquito populations that have the ability to act as carriers of the West Nile Virus.

6. What is mosquito fogging?: Fogging is used to control the adult mosquito population by means of utra-low volume application of pesicides that target only mosquitoes.