Winnipeg, MB - The City of Winnipeg will continue to use malathion to help manage mosquitoes this summer. The City's inventory of malathion is currently 4,550 litres which is enough to treat the entire City approximately 2.5 times.
“The City’s primary focus will continue to be killing mosquito larvae in water using a 100% biological larviciding program,” said Ken Nawolsky, superintendent of insect control. “However, if an adult mosquito control program is required, based on the history of the last 10 years, there is minimal risk of using the remaining stocks of malathion in 2016.”
The City of Winnipeg is continuing to work to bring a new adult mosquito control product to Canada called DeltaGardâ� and plans to start using it for mosquito fogging if and once it is approved for use in Canada which could be as early as 2017.
“Our goal is to transition over to a new product as soon as possible,” said Nawolsky. “I am pleased with the DeltaGardâ� trials we conducted last summer which indicate this product would be effective at controlling mosquito populations in Winnipeg.”
Research trials were authorized by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for the City to test the effectiveness of DeltaGardâ� in 2015. These trials were conducted in Winnipeg at the Insect Control Branch’s heliport site in the last few weeks of August 2015. The results indicated that DeltaGardâ� is effective. At a distance up to 90 meters, 98% adult mosquito control was achieved when the results were combined from two trials. This research data was submitted to the PMRA in October 2015.
Forest tent caterpillar program
Winnipeggers can expect to see a significant amount of forest tent caterpillars this May and June.
“Based on surveillance information, we expect most areas of the city will have moderate to significant leaf damage,” said Nawolsky. “Forest tent caterpillar larvae will begin feeding on leaves in early May, causing small holes known as ‘shot hole’ damage.”
Forest tent caterpillars are usually found on the foliage of American elm, Manitoba maple, Green ash, poplar, and other ornamental trees.
A control program will be implemented once the leaves begin to emerge. A 24-hour public notice will be provided in advance of the program. The Insect Control Branch will use Btk, a biological, organic product, which is sprayed from high pressure tree sprayers directly onto the foliage of the trees. Once Btk is ingested by forest tent caterpillars, they stop feeding and die about two to three days later.
Homeowners are responsible for forest tent caterpillar control on their property.Citizens can spray their own trees with Btk, which is available at most home and garden centres or they can contract a tree spraying company by referring to the Yellow Pages under tree service or exterminators.
More information
For more information contact 311, or visit the City’s Insect Control website.