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Adult Mosquito Control

The Desplaines Valley Mosquito Abatement District does not conduct routine adult mosquito control operations. Adult mosquito control is the least effective approach to mosquito control with only localized, temporary benefits. However, adult mosquito control is the only tool available to use against an adult mosquito population involved in disease transmission. The District will only implement residential adult mosquito control operations as a contingency measure for disease vector mosquitoes when there is significant risk of mosquito-borne disease transmission.

Residential Adult Mosquito Control
The District considers guidelines established by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in their publication entitled "IDPH Surveillance and Response Procedures for Mosquito-borne Arbovirus Emergencies" and the Center for Disease Control in consideration of residential adult mosquito control operations. Operations will be focused against specific vector populations of Culex pipiens and related species in an effort to minimize or break a viral transmission cycle.

Specific criteria considered to initiate residential adult mosquito control are as follows:

Primary Triggers

a) Positive Mosquito Pools - Confirmation of viral activity within the adult mosquito population. Our District operates a network of gravid traps to collect adult mosquito samples for subsequent testing of West Nile Virus(WNV). These traps are highly selective in collecting Culex spp. mosquitoes having had a blood meal and potential exposure to WNV. In-house testing using RAMP gives same day results.

b) Surrounding Area Data - Viral activity in areas surrounding the district, including data from other Mosquito Abatement Districts, Cook County Department of Public Health, and DuPage County Health Department.

c) Dead Birds - Numbers of dead birds and the time of year they are found. Subsequent confirmation by the IDPH of WNV within dead birds.

d) Time of Season - The point in any given mosquito season when initial positive bird and mosquito pool samples are confirmed. Positive samples early in the season set the stage for a developed viral amplification/transmission cycle, whereas initial positive samples late in the season would minimize this cycle.

e) Equine Cases - Confirmed equine (horse) cases are an indicator that a spillover from the bird population has occurred. Viral activity has amplified and escalated to a level where this occurs.

f) Human Cases - Confirmed human cases or fatalities are the ultimate indicator that a spillover from the bird population has occurred, and is likely to continue.

Secondary Triggers

a) Vector Population Level - A larger than normal vector population level poses a greater risk for spillover disease transmission to humans. But a low vector population does not imply that disease transmission will be minimal or disappear. Under the circumstances of a high infection rate, spillover transmission will occur even with a low vector population.

b) Weather: Rain & Temperature - Rainfall can directly affect vector population levels. Water is required for all mosquito development, with rainfall influencing the number of potential breeding sources. Temperature on the other hand can affect both vector population levels and the viral amplification/transmission cycle. Above normal temperatures also can increase the viral transmission rate.

Insecticide used for adult mosquito control
The insecticide used is Duet, a dual-action synthetic pyrethroid manufactured by Clarke Mosquito Control Products, Inc.

Adult Control only is conducted after dusk, when the vector mosquitoes are most active and pollinators are inactive so that nontarget effects are minimized.