The Mosquito Research and Control Unit launched an island-wide, daytime larviciding campaign Wednesday that will continue for the next fortnight.
The larviciding campaign began in the Barkers area and will proceed across the peninsula and then eastwards in the coming weeks.
During the campaign, larvicidal pellets will be dispensed from specially designed Ayres Turbo Thrush airplanes, targeting areas of swamp across the island known as breeding sites for mosquitoes. The pellets are small and dissolve when they come in contact with water, releasing a chemical that kills mosquito larvae after they hatch.
‘In the past few years MRCU has made a major shift to larviciding, the use of pellets, to control mosquito populations,’ said MRCU Assistant Director Dr. Alan Wheeler. ‘This is the most important operational change for us in many years and an ambitious move for mosquito control that has paid off even better than expected.
‘We’ve seen impressive reduction in mosquito numbers in only two years, as evidenced by graphical data and have reduced the need to conduct conventional spraying.’
Dr. Wheeler assured the public that the chemical pellets pose no danger to people or pets.
For more information about the larviciding campaign contact the MRCU at 949-2557.
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