CALVERT COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL PROGRAM 2017 SEASON

Transcription

1 CALVERT COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL PROGRAM 2017 SEASON The Mosquito Control Program provides a County-wide integrated pest abatement of nuisance and vector (disease carrier) mosquitoes. Calvert County Mosquito Control Program Mailing Address: Courthouse, 175 Main Street Prince Frederick, Md Field Office Location: Hallowing Point Park Prince Frederick Field Office: (410) Maryland Relay for Impaired Hearing or Speech mosquitocontrol@co.cal.md.us

2 INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT [IPM] The Mosquito Control Program is totally committed to an integrated approach toward reducing the mosquito population. By integrating the program to effectively control the nuisance and vector mosquito population, strategies of physical, chemical and biological control options can reduce the reliance on chemical controls alone. IPM will lessen the environmental impact caused by over reliance on chemical insecticides while assuring mosquito population controls. The goal of the program is to expand integrated pest management toward mosquito control by established biological control programs to compliment other IPM controls: 1) the Asian Tiger Mosquito is now known to carry West Nile Virus in Maryland and has also been implicated in the possible transmission of the Zika Virus. Since this species only utilizes artificial containers for breeding, the most effective control measure is source reduction through neighborhood cleanups. 2) continual emphasis toward source reduction and control of the mosquito larva in their aquatic habitat. Larva control becomes extremely cost effective as mosquitoes can be better controlled in a much smaller area compared to that of area control for adult mosquitoes. Also, larva can be effectively controlled by use of biological methods, an option that is very limited in the control of adults. Mosquito fish are available to all communities who have suitable habitat, i.e., storm water management ponds, or any permanent water impoundments. 3) working with County Highway Maintenance to identify overgrown and clogged roadside ditches. 4) increased emphasis on monitoring adult mosquito populations to aid in the "spray only as needed" concept. We encourage all spray communities to become actively involved in the program. Volunteers helping with monitoring and cleanup of the community should be trained by County personnel and supply information at least once every seven days. 5) continuing with projects such as Open Marsh Water Management (OMWM) in the remaining salt marsh breeding areas of the County. 6) maintenance of the OMWM controls in place to ensure their continual operation as designed. We want you to be aware of the importance of mosquito landing rate counts. By scheduling spraying based on actual adult mosquito population counts, the same control rate is realized while the amount of insecticide is greatly reduced. From a resistance standpoint alone, it is very important that spraying on an as-needed basis be continued.

3 As stated above, the decision to spray depends on the number of specimens collected. Also, the species collected is very important as it helps staff to determine what type of breeding areas to look for and try to control new broods in the larva stage. ULTRA LOW VOLUME (ULV) SPRAY PROGRAM FOR ADULT MOSQUITOES: The spray program for adult mosquitoes is operated under Maryland Department of Agriculture, Mosquito Control Section guidelines. The local program is supervised by William Clay, a State certified Pesticide Applicator, who works in cooperation with the State entomologists. The spray equipment is mounted on the back of small pickup trucks and is calibrated to ensure insecticide applications at rates in accordance with EPA regulations. The spray's drift is determined by wind direction. Permethrin will be used for adult mosquito control. Information on Permethrin is available and labels will be made available upon request. In accordance with the labeled directions, Spraying must be performed when temperatures are not too high nor too low and when winds are favorable. Spraying cannot be done when it is raining or when air quality code is RED. It will be the County's policy to spray when the mosquitoes are most active; between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. If possible, the program tries to avoid spraying in the mornings while school is in session. COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES Communities must select a representative to act as liaison with the County. The representatives are responsible for contacting the residents to determine if they want service, preparing and updating maps, taking messages, questions and complaints and referring them to County staff, and payment of invoices at the end of the season. All contact with the Mosquito Control Program should be through the representative. Each year ALL COMMUNITIES, no matter how many years in the program, are required to submit a Request for Service form as a matter of record and to provide current names and addresses of representatives. ALL COMMUNITIES ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT MAPS OF THEIR SPRAY AREA IDENTIFYING PROPERTIES TO BE SPRAYED AND PROPERTIES NOT TO BE SPRAYED. MAPS MUST INCLUDE HOUSE NUMBERS AND LOCATIONS OF BEE HIVES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. NO COMMUNITY WILL BE SPRAYED UNTIL THE MAP IS SUBMITTED. Private driveways will not be considered as part of the spray route. Private driveways will be considered provided there is turnaround, accessibility and the community representative approves with a revised map showing the driveway. Private driveways will then be considered for spraying at the discretion of the driver. This should be done annually and whenever there is a

4 change in the homes to be sprayed. Please do not assume that new owners are willing participants. They have a right to decide if they want chemical sprays or to decline the service for personal or health related reasons. Identify anyone who objects to the spraying or for health reasons should not be exposed to the spraying, i.e., breathing disorder, hypersensitivity, etc. We will, upon request, call those with allergic reactions prior to spraying. We will not begin spraying in a community until we feel confident that we have accurate maps and information. BILLING AND COLLECTION Billing will be mailed approximately sixty days after the end of the mosquito spraying season with payments due within sixty days of billing. Communities or businesses making no effort to pay their prior bills will not be sprayed until the account is settled. THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS! We want to thank all the volunteers who help us with the Mosquito Control Program. Whatever part you play in assisting our program, we want you to know we appreciate your help. Thank You!! PROGRAM COSTS COMMUNITY TESTING FEE [Light Trap and/or Landing Rate Counts of Adult Mosquitoes]: $10.00 plus $1.00 for each home served in spray area up to and including 100 homes; i.e., Minimum Fee $ $1.00 = $ Maximum Fee $ $ = $ Community Participation in Testing:Minus 50% SPRAY (ULV) SERVICE (Hourly rate to include): Spray equipment mounted on pickup truck: $20.00 Truck Operation (gas, oil, etc) 2.00 Driver: Chemical: TOTAL $62.00 Community Shared Cost: $31.00

5 LARVICIDING SERVICE WITHIN COMMUNITY (Hourly rate to include): With Without [All Terrain Vehicle] ATV ATV Pickup Truck $17.00 $ 7.00 Truck Operation Driver/Larvicider [2] Equip; back-pack & chemical _ TOTAL $39.40 $29.40 Community Shared Cost: $19.70 $14.70 Mosquito Fish (gambusia) are offered free of charge. Pricing listed are subject to change by the Board of County Commissioners.