Larvicide is our primary method to control mosquitoes; 80 percent of our abatement hours are spent checking standing water pools for mosquito larva and treating the water when we find the larva. We use different types of larvicide, depending on other organisms present in the water and on the size or surface area of the water. If the body of water is small enough and if fish or other aquatic residents are present, we use a product made from bacteria that targets only mosquito larva. In other cases, such as a large body of still water left after flooding, we'll use a pesticide mixed with a small amount of oil. This forms a very thin film on the surface of water that prevents the larva from getting oxygen to breathe, thus suffocating them, as well as poisoning the larva. This season, we will also use a spinosad compound to stop growth of the larva and prevent them from hatching into adults.

Also being used this year by CMAD is a drone that will deliver product over areas that contain mosquito larvae. This helps to have a better coverage of an area and limit the footprint left behind by ATV's.