Mosquito Treatment

The Integrated Mosquito Management Program (IMM) is based on a broad combination of methods for managing nuisance and disease carrying mosquitoes. Mosquito surveillance, physical, chemical and biological control applications are used as proactive and active control measures and are the primary components of Santa Rosa (IMM) program.

In addition to the surveillance, and education; chemical and biological control is also used to combat mosquitoes. Due to the degree of variability within mosquito breeding habitats, treatment methods may be either a chemical or biological control.

Chemical Control

Juvenile (larvae) and adult mosquito populations are primarily controlled by source reduction and biological methods, however when these methods are not suitable, the use of chemicals are necessary. Santa Rosa uses Pyrethroids (Kontrol 4-4) for adult mosquitoes and Methoprene (Altosid) for treating aquatic habitats for juvenile (larvae) mosquitoes. Ultra Low Volume (ULV) spray equipment is used for ground adulticide application.

Biological Control

For biological control a naturally occurring bacteria called BTI, which is toxic only to mosquito and black fly larvae, and is not toxic to beneficial insects. A native plains fish, gambusia affinis, is used to control mosquito larvae in areas where there is standing water for long periods of time, such as wetlands and ponds.

As by law, regulated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Santa Rosa County Mosquito Control operates according to Chapter 388 Florida Statutes requiring that control measures be consistent with environmental laws in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency.