Mosquito Fogging Program Begins June 11

Fogging will begin on Thursday, June 11, 2015, between 9:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.  To date, the Insect Control Branch (ICB) has used a combination of larviciding and residual treatments to control mosquito populations. These measures alone are no longer sufficient to control the current adult nuisance mosquito population so an adult nuisance mosquito fogging program will be implemented.

Adulticiding Factor Analysis (AFA):  Based on the Adulticiding Factor Analysis (AFA) factors, which include trap counts, the city-wide AFA rating moved from MEDIUM to HIGH on Wednesday, June 10, 2015.  Today, June 10, 2015, the city-wide New Jersey Light Trap count is 51.

In order for a nuisance mosquito fogging program to occur, the City of Winnipeg Adult Nuisance Mosquito Control Policy and the Provincial Pesticide Use Permit define three conditions that must be met:

• The Adulticiding Factor Analysis, which is one city-wide rating, must be HIGH; and
• A minimum city-wide average trap count threshold of 25 female mosquitoes for 2 consecutive nights; and
• One or more of the quadrants of the city are in the range of 100 female adult mosquitoes.

At this time, all of these conditions have been met.

Daily public service announcements:  Public Service Announcements (PSAs) will be released daily at least eight hours in advance of fogging. These PSAs will identify the Insect Management Areas the Insect Control Branch is planning to treat that evening, weather permitting. Until further notice, fogging will be carried out on a daily basis between the hours of 9:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. Fogging will not occur when temperatures are below 13 degrees Celsius and/or wind speeds are not conducive to fogging.

The insecticide Pro Malathion ULV® will be used. This insecticide has been approved for use in Canada by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency. Pro Malathion ULV® will be used in accordance with federally approved label directions by licensed pesticide applicators.

Insect Management Areas:  All Winnipeg neighbourhoods have been grouped into 51 Insect Management Areas. Information on all fogging activities will be provided by referencing the specific Insect Management Area in which treatment is to be carried out.  Citizens can find out which Insect Management Area they reside in by calling 311 or by going to the City of Winnipeg – Insect Management Areas.

Phone and email notification:  The Insect Control Branch offers an automated telephone and email notification system. Residents who register for this service will receive daily phone or email notifications during all fogging for adult mosquito control. To register for the automated email or telephone notification systems, citizens can go to City of Winnipeg – Register for Notification or call 311.

Buffer zones:  All buffer zones will be respected. Crews will ensure that the sprayer is not treating within 90 metres on each side of a registered property on the front street, side street, and rear lane.  Property owners not wanting insecticides applied on or adjacent to their principal residence may register as “Anti-Pesticide Registrants” (APR) for the adult nuisance mosquito control program. Those who wish to register must provide identification that ties the registrant to the address being registered for a buffer zone. A photocopy or scanned document such as a driver’s licence or a utility bill will suffice as acceptable identification proving primary residence.  A 72-hour turnaround time is required for processing.

The Insect Control Branch will have extended hours today and tomorrow to process in-person APR requests at 1539 Waverley Street: Wednesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 11, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Please remember to bring a piece of accepted identification that ties the registrant to the address being registered.

There are four different options to register:

• In writing to Insect Control Branch at 3 Grey Street, Winnipeg, MB R2L 1V2,
• Emailing 311 at 311@winnipeg.ca
• Faxing 311, and
• In person at 1539 Waverley Street.

Larviciding and residual treatments:  The Insect Control Branch continues the aggressive larviciding program in response to the significant rainfall events in and around Winnipeg over the weekend. The Insect Control Branch also continues to apply residual treatments using environmentally sensitive permethrin-based products where localized emergences of adult mosquito populations have occurred on City of Winnipeg property (parks, cemeteries and rights-of-way).

And, equally importantly, we all can help fight mosquitoes:  Dump it, Drain it, Cover it, Fill it, Treat it!

Citizens can help in the fight:

• Dump containers of water
• Drain eaves troughs and un-used containers
• Cover rain water barrels
• Fill in low lying areas
• Use biological larvicides to treat standing water

For more information, please contact 311 (open 24 hours every day) by phone at 311 or by email at 311@winnipeg.ca, or visit the City’s Insect Control website.

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