What Are Pesticides?

Pesticides are chemical substances that are used to kill, repel, or control pests of all kinds.

In vector control, pesticides are used to manage and mitigate risks that mosquitoes, rodents, and other public health vectors pose.

The basic laws regulating the pesticides in use by vector control are defined and FIFRA, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. This act has been amended and strengthened many times as pesticides have evolved.

In California,Certification to apply public health pesticides in California is based on successful testing in several areas:

A. Pesticide Application and Safety Training, plus one of the following:

B. Mosquito Biology and Control

C. Arthropods of Public Health Significance

D.Vertebrates of Public Health Significance.

Individuals employed by public agencies must be certified by the California Department of Public Health to apply public health pesticides without supervision of a certified applicator. 

(information provided by PESTICIDE APPLICATION AND SAFETY TRAINING FOR
APPLICATORS OF PUBLIC HEALTH PESTICIDES)

 Pesticides in Use by West Valley MVCD

 The West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District uses the most advanced and ecologically friendly pesticides available for public health agencies today.

The District employs an integrated pest management strategy, focusing more on environmental change (i.e. maintaining or draining swimming pools, modifying drain patterns of stormwater retention devices) than pesticide application.

Here is a short movie about insecticides we use at the district. 

Bacillus Thuringensis (bt, bti)

Bacillus Thuringiensis israelensis is a naturally occuring bacterium used to kill mosquitoes in their larval stages.

The larvae ingest the bacterium and the crystalline toxins produced by the bacterium are activated in the larvae's gut, causing the larvae to stop feeding and die before they can reach adulthood.

Bacillus Sphaericus (bs)

Similar to bt, this bacterium kills mosquito larvae when larvae ingest the crystalline toxins.  The toxins are slightly different than bt, and bs can regenerate in water, prolonging its effectiveness.

 

Larvicidal Oils (BVA, Golden Bear, Agnique)

These oils act as a surfactant, which make it impossible for mosquito larvae and pupae to break the water's surface with their breathing tubes.  This effectively drowns the mosquitoes.  Larvicidal oils quickly kill mosquitoes and dissipate within 24-48 hours.  This method of mosquito control is used when a large number of pupae are present.  Because pupae do not feed, BT and BS are not effective.