How Winter Prep Impacts Next Year’s Mosquito Control Success

Fall marks a time of transition for mosquito abatement districts (MADs) and their teams. Peak mosquito season is winding down, and that means winter preparation should be gearing up. Because when it comes to mosquito prevention, the value of winter maintenance can’t be underestimated. In fact, the outcome of next summer’s mosquito control efforts can be greatly affected by the efforts put in during the wintertime.

Winter is the time to proactively tend to the vehicles, sprayers, and other pieces of equipment that have been worked extensively throughout the mosquito season. And the first step is conducting comprehensive assessments of your equipment. Ensure technicians or mechanics carefully inspect every system, from hoses and nozzles to engines and pumps, to ensure everything is operational and free of defects. Repair or replace any items that are not in top working condition, and don’t let any issues fall by the wayside. Ignoring worn or broken components can lead to equipment breakdowns that might be disastrous during the height of next year’s mosquito season.

Once you’ve inspected and tuned up your equipment, it’s time to winterize. Flush those sprayers. Change those fluids. Stabilize the fuel. And give those traps and trucks a cleaning for winter. Make sure safety equipment, PPE, spill kits, and any other vital tools are stocked and properly secured. Being thorough in the winter will ensure you are ahead of the game come spring and summer.

Winter is also a great time to take inventory. Evaluating your stock of mosquito control products early allows for informed purchasing and ordering decisions. By analyzing usage trends and anticipating future needs, MADs can maintain a well-stocked inventory of larvicides and adulticides, ensuring they are ready to combat mosquito populations efficiently and effectively as soon as the warm weather returns.

In addition to inventory management, MADs should develop control strategies in the off-season that maximize their budgets and result in the best control possible with the resources available. Inflation continues to grow while manpower is at a premium, so it often makes sense to prioritize products with longer residual control. This approach reduces the need for frequent larvicide applications, which can save both time and money, particularly in short-staff situations or in difficult-to-treat habitats. For applications that last, turn to extended residual control from Central Life Sciences including, Altosid® XR Extended Residual Briquets, Altosid® P35 and Duplex™-G.

Altosid® XR Extended Residual Briquets

A single application of Altosid® XR Extended Residual Briquets (Altosid® XR Briquets) offers up to 150 days of control. Like Altosid® Briquets (30-Day), Altosid® XR Briquets require no expensive application equipment and can be used for pre-treatment before the wet season.

FEATURES

  • Slow-release control for up to 150 days
  • Multiple shapes for easy applications
  • Extended shelf life
  • Easy-to-use

Altosid® P35

Altosid® P35 larvicide provides 35 days of residual control in continuously wet conditions. With extended release technology, this easy-to-use formulation also offers pre-treatment capabilities 15 days prior to flooding (pre-hatch).

FEATURES

  • Dual encapsulation for short- and long-term release of the IGR
  • Uniform spherical design
  • Up to 35 days of residual control
  • Pre-treatment of floodwater habitats

Duplex™-G Larvicide

Duplex™-G larvicide delivers dual-active control through a combination of our pioneering biorational control agent (S)-methoprene and biological control agent Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (Bti) in a granular formulation.

FEATURES

  • Provides a quick kill with up to 28-day residual control of many labeled mosquito species larvae
  • Allows for pre-flood treatments with “Active Booster Release Technology”
  • Creates low-to-no impact on non-target species with our (S)-methoprene core designed for environmental compatibility
  • Ensures calibration ease and normalized swath characterization for ground and aerial application equipment with its uniform granule size

Finally, the winter offseason presents the perfect time to brush up on the latest news and trends in the industry. From attending a regional or virtual meeting to taking an online training program, there are countless opportunities to grow professionally while effectively preparing for peak mosquito season. You can also turn to Central Life Sciences as a source of information by following all of the updates on our “Latest News” page.

Whether preparing your staff or equipment, make the most of the offseason to lay the foundation for a successful 2025.