COLORADO MOSQUITO CONTROL, INC.

All products selected for use by CMC are registered by the US EPA and the State of Colorado Department of Agriculture. Many of the products used by CMC are widely utilized in many mosquito abatements programs across the country because of their efficacy and minimal environmental impacts. CMC has selected these products following IPM guidelines with the goal of protecting human populations and the natural environment while economically reducing pest and disease-vector mosquitoes to tolerable levels.

The larval control products (Bti and Bs) used by CMC are target specific to mosquito larvae and black fly larvae. The bacteria contained in VectoBac (Bti) and VectoLex (Bs) occur naturally in the soil. Both of these soil bacterium can be processed through the systems of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and nearly all aquatic invertebrates.

There have been no notable implications associated with application of these larvicides to the natural environment.

Mosquito trapping can be an invaluable tool for the surveillance of public health threats from mosquito-borne disease, for monitoring larval control programs, and targeting adult spraying. The primary tool in any mosquito control/surveillance program is a mosquito trapping devise called a CDC Light Trap. This trap was developed in the 1960's and has been the standard tool for monitoring mosquito population levels, density, and species makeup for over thirty years.

These specially designed, battery powered light traps baited with CO2 (carbon dioxide), can be operated by CMC at selected data collection locations throughout the mosquito surveillance area to collect adult mosquitoes. The blood meal seeking female mosquito follows the CO2 vapor plume produced by the sublimation of the dry-ice into carbon dioxide gas, as would be produced by the exhaling process of any free air breathing animal, including humans. Once near the trap, a small light bulb draws the mosquito closer and a fan then sucks the mosquito into a collection bag alive.

CMC will generally operate the light trap(s), one night per week for adult mosquito and disease vector mosquito surveillance. The locations will be determined in cooperation with the contracting entity. CMC will provide all labor, dry ice, and other equipment necessary for the operation of the traps. The captured mosquitoes will be preserved and shipped to the CMC Surveillance Laboratory in Brighton for identification. Identification of the trapped mosquitoes will be done at the CMC Surveillance Laboratory the day after the mosquitoes are returned to the lab. The trapped mosquitoes will be counted and identified to Genus/species. Trap maintenance and operation will be the complete responsibility of CMC. Pools will then be made available and sent as needed to the Colorado Dept. of Public Health for virus testing.