Winnipeg, MB – The City of Winnipeg is getting ready for this year’s insect control season and started its environmentally friendly, aggressive mosquito larviciding program this week. Larviciding is the most effective approach to control mosquitoes, as it targets mosquito larvae in the aquatic stage before they emerge as adults.
“Although the spring temperatures have been below normal until mid-April, the return to more seasonable temperatures has triggered the hatch of the spring species of mosquitoes in the water. If weather conditions continue to remain dry, a normal spring larviciding program is anticipated.” said Ken Nawolsky, superintendent of insect control.
This season’s mosquito control program will continue to be based on an environmentally mindful strategy. Staff working in the Insect Control Branch will carry out the key components of the mosquito control program including:
- A 100% biological larviciding program using various equipment including four helicopters,
- Monitoring and treating over 28,000 hectares of water area on an ongoing basis based on weather conditions,
- Monitoring for adult nuisance mosquitoes in New Jersey Light Traps beginning April 30, 2018 with the first trap counts posted on May 2, 2018 on the Insect Control website
- Fogging programs that will only be initiated when the requirements of the City policy, the AFA Guidelines, and the Provincial Pesticide Use Permit are met. If nuisance mosquito fogging is required, the program will be carried out using DeltaGard 20EW®. Areas with highest nuisance mosquito populations will be prioritized and 90 meter buffer zones will be respected. A 24-hour public notice will be issued prior to the start of a nuisance fogging program. Daily public notices will also be issued detailing where fogging will occur that night.
Reduction in mosquito larviciding in the Capital region
In an effort to offset a recent reduction in provincial funding for mosquito larviciding in the Capital region, the City approached the ten rural municipalities within the mosquito abatement district about increasing their contribution to the larviciding program as their contribution rate has remained unchanged since the program was initiated in 2001. Only East St. Paul agreed to increase their funding level and as a result the City will be reducing the mosquito abatement district from 10 km to 8 km from the City limits except for East St. Paul which will have an additional buffer.
“The impact of reducing the larviciding area should hopefully not result in a significant increase in adult mosquito populations in Winnipeg. However, it would be dependent on the precipitation not being excessive in the Capital Region or that there are not consistently high winds to aid the adult mosquitoes in their flight towards the City”, said Ken Nawolsky.
Larviciding with helicopters
Last year, Transport Canada Civil Aviation Division updated the standards on the low flight waiver which allows the City to use contracted helicopters to apply larvicides at low altitudes. When larviciding is occurring in places where people congregate (e.g. athletic fields, larger parks, golf courses etc.) public access will be restricted to these areas 20 minutes before and during treatment. The Insect Control Branch will try to minimize disruption to the public in the areas impacted by posting signage which indicates the date and time of the planned treatment approximately 24 hours in advance of treatment, treating as early as possible in the morning, and using longer lasting larvicides to limit the number of applications required over the season.
Buffer zones
Property owners not wanting DeltaGard 20EW® applied on or adjacent to their principal residence may register as “Anti-Pesticide Registrants” for the adult nuisance mosquito control program. Those who want 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 utility bill will suffice as acceptable identification proving primary residence. Please remember that a 72-hour turnaround time is required.
There are four options to register:
- In writing to the Insect Control Branch at 3 Grey St., Winnipeg, MB R2L 1V2;
- By emailing 311 at 311@winnipeg.ca;
- By faxing 311; and,
- In person at 1539 Waverley St.
Please note that since identification is required, registrations cannot be processed over the phone.
Do your part
Property owners are also encouraged to eliminate standing water on their properties by taking one of the following steps:
- Dump It! - containers
- Drain It! - eavestroughing or unused containers
- Cover It! - rain water collection containers
- Fill It! - low-lying areas
- Treat It! - biological larvicide
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 for all adult mosquito control activities. To register for the automated email or telephone notification system, citizens can go to City of Winnipeg – Register for Notification or call 311.
More information
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.