Mosquito control board adopts new plan

by Bigfork Eagle
| April 4, 2012 8:52 AM

Flathead County Mosquito Control (FCMC), a division of the Flathead County Health Department, has completed its Pesticide Discharge Management Plan (PDMP) in response to a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruling. This plan describes the activities of FCMC and the thresholds established that would allow for the use of larvicides, pupacides and adulticides.

Kontrol 4+4, containing Permethrin, was chosen by FCMC for adulticiding because its side effects are considered less detrimental than other pesticides. Applications will be made to small, select areas using calibrated, truck mounted equipment.

Licensed and trained applicators must first determine that a problem exists, a spray/fog application meets threshold requirements and that weather conditions will allow for a safe and effective treatment.

The Flathead County Mosquito Board has adopted this plan, in part, due to the increased amount of malathion being misused and over applied across the county.

It is a property owners right to “Opt-Out” of adulticiding unless a clear and present disease threat exists. Visit http://flathead.mt.gov to learn more about adulticiding and to “Opt-Out” or receive email (“NotifyMe”) notifications about planned spray/fog operations.

Flathead County Mosquito Control continues to urge property owners to do their part by dumping unnecessary water from containers and to report standing water so that low toxicity larvicides may be applied. FlatheadCountyMosquitoControl.php to learn more about adulticiding and to “Opt-Out” or receive email (“NotifyMe”) notifications about planned spray/fog operations.

Low toxicicity larvicides will always be the first and preferred method to reduce mosquito numbers, however when these efforts prove unsuccessful and nuisance or disease carrying mosquitoes present a health issue, adulticides may be the only option. Flathead County Mosquito Control continues to urge property owners to do their part by dumping unnecessary water from containers and to report standing water so that low toxicity larvicides may be applied.