Health District to Conduct Third Mosquito Aerial Larviciding

Larviciding will cover 1,000 acres throughout Washoe County

Reno, Nev. June 17, 2019. The Washoe County Health District Vector-Borne Diseases Program will conduct the third seasonal helicopter larviciding application in the early morning hours of June 19, 2019. Subsequent applications are planned for August and September. The helicopter larviciding will cover approximately 1,000 acres in Washoe County from the North Valleys to Washoe Lake.

Health officials report this application will consist of MetaLarv, a spherical pellet formulation of larvicides with an active ingredient methoprene -a juvenile hormone analog of mosquitoes that prevents the emergence of adult mosquitoes. Halting the growth of biting mosquitoes can also prevent the spread of arboviruses like West Nile Virus (WNV), a virus most commonly spread to people by mosquito bites. In North America, cases of WNV occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall.

While monthly larviciding is expected to reduce the number of mosquitos in the area, health officials suggest individuals should also take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitos. During the spring and summer months people should:

• Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants in mosquito prone areas. Especially in early morning and evening hours when mosquitos are most active;
• Use mosquito repellents, applying a layer directly on skin, and one on clothing for maximum protection;
• Keep window and door screens in good repair to prevent mosquitos from entering into homes;
• Vaccinate horses for Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV); and,
• Clear areas around living spaces of any free-standing water and containers that can hold even small amounts of water like pet bowls and planters. These may become mosquito breeding grounds.

The Vector-Borne Diseases Program also has mosquito fish available for ponds, troughs and other large water containers. The small minnow-sized fish feed on mosquito larvae and prevent them from hatching into mosquitos. If you are experiencing biting mosquitos, call the Vector-Borne Diseases Program at 328-2434, and staff will investigate the source of the adult mosquitos.

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