The Gem County Mosquito Abatement District (GCMAD), located in Emmett, Idaho, encompasses only a portion of the county for which it is named. In addition to the continuous fight against “fly-in” mosquitoes is the abundance of man-made mosquito breeding habitats within the boundaries of the district. Emmett is located in the middle of a valley filled with numerous flood irrigated pastures that contribute greatly to the production of mosquitoes. It presents a constant challenge to Director Jason Kinley and his crew.
In recent years, an area of flood-irrigated pastures on the outskirts of Emmett has put persistent pressure on the district. These pastures produce predominantly Aedes nigromaculis and mosquitoes and are known to be a contributing factor in the cycle of West Nile virus in the surrounding area. It is accessible by all terrain vehicles (ATVs), but in certain areas the water floods to levels that even an ATV cannot navigate. For this reason, a product with pre-flood capabilities and an extended residual for multiple flood events was an important consideration in the selection of products to treat this area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWZ41R2_39Y
During the 2015 mosquito season, the district chose MetaLarv® to address this important area. Two successive applications of MetaLarv S-PT were made approximately 35 to 40 days apart using a broadcast spreader mounted on an ATV. The first application was made in early July and the subsequent application during the second week of August. At the Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control Association’s annual conference in Osoyoos, British Columbia, Jason Kinley reported the results of the district’s work in this challenging habitat (see Figure 2). The results were positive and these applications provided a consistent level of control in the treatment areas.
The district’s effort was a success for many reasons. Among these were the selection of a product that closely fit the need, attention to details of the application such as surveillance of the sites, calibration, and characterization of the equipment, and most important, the hard work and professional attitude of the Gem County Mosquito Abatement District employees who were involved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlrxTvpbxig