Mosquito Control

The City of Kyle has a risk level response plan when it comes to mosquito control that includes the use of pesticides if warranted. 

When considering the application of pesticides, city staff take the known risks to people in the area, potential ecological and environmental risks into consideration. If they are used, it is done so in a targeted and brief manner through ultra-low volume (ULV) pesticide application that has been shown to reduce a community's risk of arbovirus infection with minimal to no risk to the human population and minimal risk to the environment.

To target the most common mosquito-borne disease, West Nile virus, there are two main mosquito control pesticide groups, larvicide pesticide and adulticide pesticide. Larvicide pesticide has targeted toxicity to mosquito larvae. This type of application is encouraged because of the low inherent risk and high level of success in mosquito population control. 

Adulticide pesticide targets adult mosquitoes using pyrethrins and pyrethroids in a strategic manner using ultra-low volume spraying. These pesticides are typically applied using backpacks for small areas, truck-mounted sprayers for broader applications, or aerial applications to target a wide-spread outbreak of the disease. Spraying should be conducted around dusk when the weather permits and timed to strike the best balance between impacting the target mosquito during its most active time and minimizing impacts on non-target organisms. The City’s spraying activity shall follow CDC guidelines. Due to the measures of risk to the environment and ecological functions, adulticides will only be utilized when multiple human cases of West Nile virus have been identified. 

Mosquitoes may be controlled through a variety of different physical, chemical, and biological methods.

Physical methods usually involve source reduction, which is the physical removal of the specific mosquito breeding habitats of the mosquito species of concern, namely small catchments of water around homes and in storm drain systems.

Biological methods mainly center on the use of bacteria that kill mosquito larvae or the use of natural mosquito larvae predators. 

Chemical control typically involves the application of pesticides to rapidly reduce the adult mosquito population when the human population is at an elevated risk of acquiring a mosquito-borne disease. 

Most infections do not result in any symptoms. Symptoms may occur days to weeks after a bite from an infected mosquito. Health care providers can provide supportive care but there is no specific treatment available for arboviral infections. 

Mild cases may occur with only a slight fever and/or headache and body aches and resolve with no complications. 

Severe infections are marked by a rapid onset, headache, high fever, disorientation, tremors, conjunctivitis, convulsions, meningitis, encephalitis, flaccid paralysis, coma or death. There have been reports of a link between the Zika virus and birth defects such as microcephaly and between the Zika virus and Guillian-Barré syndrome.

For more information on each arbovirus, CLICK HERE. 

In Texas, our concern includes West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Western Equine Encephalitis, Dengue virus, La Crosse Encephalitis, Chikungunya virus, Rift Valley Fever virus and Zika virus.

For more information on each arbovirus, CLICK HERE. 

Use the Four Ds – Drain, Dress, Dusk, and Defend – to prevent mosquitoes from biting you.

• Drain all free-standing water. Mosquitoes can lay eggs in less water than fills a bottle cap!
• Dress in long sleeves and long pants so they can’t bite you as easily.
• Dusk and dawn is when many mosquito species are out feeding, but some species, such as those that carry the Zika virus, feed throughout the day and night. See page 2 of this report for information about times that mosquitoes feed and their flying ranges.
• Defend yourself by using EPA-approved repellents such as DEET, picaridin, lemon oil or eucalyptus oil. For a complete list of repellents and their repellency visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/

Anyone can get an arboviral infection, but young children and the elderly may be more susceptible. Most arboviral infections are spread by infected mosquitoes, but not all mosquitoes have these viruses. Only female mosquitoes will take a blood meal and have the potential to pass along the harmful viruses.