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Frequent Questions: Mosquito Control
Questions on Pesticides?
- National Pesticide Information Center
(NPIC)
1-800-858-7378
- Who is responsible for mosquito control in my area?
- Where can I obtain information about mosquito control and pesticide applications in my area?
- What can I do to reduce the number of mosquitoes in and around my home?
- What steps can I take to reduce exposure to pesticides during mosquito control spraying?
- What are some of the pesticides commonly used in mosquito control programs?
- Are pesticides safe?
- How are pesticides regulated?
- Who is responsible for ensuring the safe use of pesticides in my state?
- How does EPA ensure the safest possible use of pesticides?
- How do I find out how toxic a certain pesticide is?
- Where can I get information on a specific pesticide product?
- Where can I get additional information regarding the federal pesticide regulatory programs?
1. Who is responsible for mosquito control in my area?
Everyone has a stake and responsibility in mosquito control.
- State and local government agencies play a critical
role in protecting public health from mosquito-borne diseases. They
serve on the front line, providing information through their outreach
programs to the medical and environmental surveillance networks that
first identify possible outbreaks. They also manage the mosquito control
programs that carry out prevention, public education, and vector population
management.
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), working closely
with state and local health departments, monitors the potential sources
and outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases and provides advice and consultation
on prevention and control of these diseases. CDC works with a network
of experts in human and veterinary medicine, entomology, epidemiology,
zoology, and ecology to obtain quick and accurate information on emerging
trends which they develop into national strategies that reduce the risk
of disease transmission.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ensures
that state and local mosquito control departments have access to effective
mosquito control tools that they can use without posing unreasonable
risk to human health and the environment. EPA encourages nonchemical
mosquito-prevention efforts, such as eliminating standing water that
provides breeding sites. The Agency educates the public through outreach
efforts to encourage proper use of insect repellents and mosquitocides.
Additionally, EPA's rigorous pesticide review process is designed to
ensure that registered mosquitocides used according to label directions
and precautions can further reduce disease-carrying mosquito populations.
- The public's role in eliminating potential breeding habitats for mosquitoes -- such as getting rid of any standing water around the home -- is a critical step in reducing the risk of mosquito-borne disease transmission. The public is also encouraged to make sure window screens and screen doors are in good repair. When venturing into areas with high mosquito populations, the public should wear personal protection such as long-sleeved shirts and long. People should use mosquito repellents when necessary, and always follow label instructions.
2. Where can I obtain information about mosquito
control and pesticide applications in my area?
For information about mosquito control and pesticide applications in your
area, contact your state or local health department. Your state and county
cooperative extension offices are also available to provide pest control
information for your state and county. For more information, visit our
contacts page.
3. What can I do to reduce the number of mosquitoes
in and around my home?
The most important step is to eliminate potential breeding habitats for mosquitoes. Get rid of any standing water around the home, including water in potted plant dishes, garbage cans, old tires, gutters, ditches, wheelbarrows, bird baths, hollow trees, and wading pools. Any standing water should be drained, including abandoned or unused swimming pools. Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts more than four days. Make sure windows and screen doors are "bug tight." Replace outdoor lights with yellow "bug" lights. Wear headnets, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants if venturing into areas with high mosquito populations, such as salt marshes or wooded areas. Use mosquito repellents when necessary, always following label instructions.
If you are considering the purchase of an outdoor residential misting system to control mosquitoes, or already have one installed, be aware of use, safety issues and effectiveness. Read more about outdoor residential misting systems (including mosquito misting systems).
4. What steps can I take to reduce exposure to
pesticides during mosquito-control spraying?
Although mosquito-control pesticides pose low risks, common sense steps
to help reduce possible exposure to pesticides include:
- Pay attention to the local media for announcements about spraying and remain indoors during applications in the immediate area.
- People who suffer from chemical sensitivities or feel spraying may aggravate a preexisting health condition, may consult their physician or local health department and take special measures to avoid exposure.
- Close windows and turn off window-unit air conditioners when spraying is taking place in the immediate area.
- Do not let children play near or behind truck-mounted applicators when spraying is taking place.
5. What are some of the pesticides commonly used
in mosquito control programs?
Both chemical and biological measures are employed to kill immature mosquitoes
during larval stages. Larvicides
target larvae in the breeding habitat before they can mature into adult
mosquitoes. Larvicides include the bacterial insecticides Bacillus thuringiensis
israelensis and Bacillus sphaericus, the insect growth inhibitor methoprene,
and the organophosphate insecticide temephos. Certain mineral oils --
applied to form a thin film on the surface of the water -- are also used
as larvicides.
To control an adult mosquito infestation, adulticides are applied either by aircraft or on the ground employing truck-mounted sprayers. State and local agencies commonly use the organophosphate insecticides malathion and naled and the synthetic pyrethroid insecticides permethrin, resmethrin, and sumithrin for adult mosquito control.
EPA evaluates pesticides to ensure that they will not have unreasonable adverse effects on humans, the environment and non-target species, but because they are designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms, pesticides may pose some risk to humans, animals, or the environment. Some pesticides are more hazardous than others; the hazard may be from ingestion, getting the substance on the skin or in the eyes, or inhaling it. The safety of a pesticide depends on how the product is used. The pesticide label is your guide to using pesticides safely and effectively. It contains pertinent information that you should read and understand before you use a pesticide product.
7. How are pesticides regulated?
Before a company can sell or distribute any pesticide in the United States,
EPA must review studies on the pesticide to determine that it will not
pose unreasonable risks to human health or the environment. Once EPA has
made that determination, it will license or register that pesticide for
use in strict accordance with label directions.
Pesticide registration is the process through which EPA examines the ingredients of a pesticide; the site or crop on which it is to be used; the amount, frequency, and timing of its use; and storage and disposal instructions. EPA evaluates the pesticide to ensure that it will not have unreasonable adverse effects on humans, the environment, and nontarget species. A pesticide cannot be legally used if it has not been registered with EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs.
8. Who is responsible for ensuring the safe use
of pesticides in my state?
State departments of agriculture have the primary responsibility to ensure
the safe use of pesticides in their respective state.
State departments of agriculture on other states, oversee a wide variety of pesticide programs including pesticide education, pesticides and groundwater, licensing pesticide products, and licensing commercial and private pesticide applicators.
Find more information about your state department of agriculture's pesticide program and to obtain West Nile virus and mosquito control information.
9. How does EPA ensure the safest possible use
of pesticides?
EPA must evaluate and register pesticides before they may be sold, distributed,
or used in the United States. The Agency is also in the process of reassessing,
and reregistering when appropriate, all older pesticides (those registered
prior to 1984) to ensure that they meet current scientific standards.
To evaluate a pesticide for either registration or reregistration, EPA
assesses a wide variety of potential human health and environmental effects
associated with use of the product. The producer of the pesticide must
provide data from tests done according to EPA guidelines. These tests
determine whether a pesticide has the potential to cause adverse effects
on humans, wildlife, fish, and plants, including endangered species and
nontarget organisms. Other tests help to assess the risks of contaminating
surface water or ground water from leaching, runoff, or spray drift. If
a pesticide meets EPA requirements, the pesticide is restricted for use
in accordance with label directions. However, no pesticide is 100 percent
safe and care must be exercised in the use of any pesticide.
10. How do I find out how toxic a certain pesticide
is?
EPA rates pesticide toxicity to humans on a scale of 1 to 4.
- Category 1 - highly toxic. Pesticides labels must bear the key word "DANGER". Pesticides displaying the word "DANGER" should be applied by certified applicators only.
- Category 2 - less toxic. Pesticide labels bear the key word "WARNING."
- Categories 3 and 4 - least hazardous. Pesticide labels bear the key word "CAUTION".
Other hazards may also be listed on the label, such as toxicity to aquatic life and birds. To protect yourself and the environment, use any pesticide strictly according to its label instructions. The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) (1-800-858-7378) also can provide information about pesticide products and their toxicity.
Additional information regarding toxicity categories and pesticide label statements can be obtained at http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/labeling/lrm/chap-07.htm#toxcatagories.
11. Where can I get information on a specific
pesticide product?
If you have questions concerning a specific pesticide product, contact
the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) either via telephone
at 1-800-858-7378, or via e-mail at npic@ace.orst.edu.
For more information about NPIC, visit the NPIC
Web site.
You may also obtain product labels by visiting EPA's Pesticide Product Label System (PPLS).
12. Where can I get additional information regarding
the federal pesticide regulatory programs?
For more information regarding the federal pesticide regulatory programs,
contact your local EPA regional office or visit the EPA web site "Regulating
Pesticides."