Health District conducts third mosquito treatment

Approximately 850 acres slated for larviciding

The Washoe County Health District Vector-Borne Disease Prevention Program will conduct its third scheduled mosquito abatement operation beginning at approximately 6:30 a.m., on Thursday, August 4. Helicopter applications of Vectolex and Metalarv will be applied to 850 acres of wetlands in Lemmon Valley, Red Hawk, Rosewood Lakes, Butler Ranch, South Meadows, Damonte Ranch and Washoe Valley.

According to health officials, 719 submissions totaling 18,484 adult mosquitos have been submitted to the Animal Diseases Laboratory. So far none have tested positive for West Nile virus, Western equine encephalitis or St. Louis encephalitis. This process of monitoring adult mosquitos that can spread diseases in the Truckee Meadows allows for targeting of specific areas for larviciding and adulticiding to reduce mosquito populations. Program staff continues insecticide fogging to protect people from adult biting mosquitos.

Health officials have placed specialized traps to identify if Zika mosquitos are present in the Truckee Meadows and so far these two mosquito types, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, have not been detected here. People are reminded to take the usual precautions to prevent mosquitos from biting. Preventions can include:

• Wear pants and long sleeved shirts and apply repellent such as Deet, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or other natural products. Two layers of repellent may be applied, one on the skin and a second on clothing.
• Repair tears in doors and window screens around your home or office, or keep them closed to keep mosquitos outside.
• Remove standing water or any objects that can trap or collect water around your property which make breeding grounds for mosquitos.
• If you have ponds, troughs or water features around your property, contact the Vector-Borne Disease Prevention Program to see if free Mosquito Fish are appropriate for use.
• If you notice increased mosquito activity, call the Vector-Borne Disease Prevention Program at (775)785-4599 to investigate the source of the mosquitos.

Note regarding Vectolex and Metalarv applications:

Vectolex is a biological larvicide that consists of a naturally occurring bacterium called Bacillus sphaericus. It is ingested by the mosquito larvae upsetting their mid gut and preventing them from reaching adulthood. Metalarv is biological larvicide that mimics the juvenile hormone in mosquito larvae preventing them from maturing to adults. Both products are target specific, degrade naturally in the environment and will not adversely affect humans, fish, water fowl, bees or beneficial insects.