Colorado Mosquito Control

The City of Fort Collins Mosquito Management Program can provide services regarding:

The City of Fort Collins Mosquito Management Program completed its 6th year of cost effective Integrated Mosquito Management operations in 2009. Many communities across Colorado recognize the need to control mosquito annoyances and the risk of mosquito-borne disease associated with flood irrigation practices, urban development, and snow melt runoff. Integrated mosquito management operations that utilize environmentally-sensitive controls and new technologies can greatly enhance the outdoor experience without negatively impacting the environment.

The primary objective of the City of Fort Collins Mosquito Management Program is to employ trained field technicians to suppress populations of larval mosquitoes in aquatic habitats. CMC technicians utilize bacterial larvicides that reduce mosquito populations without harming non-target organisms. Additionally, the monitoring of adult mosquito populations is an essential component of an Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) program. Surveillance trapping performed in the City of Fort Collins provides data used to assess West Nile Virus (WNV) risk. The data for mosquito infection rates and vector populations is used to determine the risk of human West Nile Virus infections and the possible need for adult mosquito control measures. Data driven response with mosquito adulticide ULV technology can reduce the threat of disease transmission and annoyance associated with mosquitoes, while reducing the necessity for large amounts of products to be applied.

Colorado Mosquito Control has designed, implemented, pioneered, refined and pushed to new technological levels, a comprehensive mosquito control program based on the sound scientific principles of IPM and the environmental goals of the City of Fort Collins. In the years since the City of Fort Collins Mosquito Management Program’s inception and continuation of CMC as the program contractor, the Mosquito Management Program, under the operation and management of CMC, has developed into one of the foremost environmentally sensitive and technologically advanced Integrated Mosquito Management Programs in the United States. Additionally, CMC has fostered the cooperative efforts for mosquito control and epizootic response management between the City, Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, the City of Loveland, surrounding city municipalities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Colorado State University. The value of this cooperative program and its underlying data sharing and communications cannot be over-emphasized.

Please call 970-663-5697 to report any water that stands for more than 4 days, mosquito annoyance concerns, or for information regarding West Nile Virus prevention. Resident phone calls continue to locate new mosquito habitats, thereby reducing the number of mosquitoes in the backyards of the City of Fort Collins residents.

Service Area

ljniqef The larval coverage area includes approximately 109 square miles of private and public lands, where permission is granted, within city limits of Fort Collins and a 1 mile buffer beyond city limits. Many sites that produce mosquitoes exist outside city limits, but are well within the flight range of most mosquitoes. Larval mosquito control work outside of the city will continue to remain a critical part of the overall operation of CMC.
Studies have indicated that adult mosquitoes can travel several miles in search of a blood meal and new habitat for offspring. Mosquitoes can be attracted from outside the city limits into a more favorable environment inside the city limits by factors including carbon dioxide, protection from wind, a nutrient rich larval site and harborage from heat. Mosquito reduction by Colorado Mosquito Control throughout the cities within Larimer County greatly reduces transient mosquito populations, thereby protecting the public from West Nile Virus transmission and the nuisance associated with mosquitoes.

How Is The Mosquito Management Program Funded?

Funding for the City of Fort Collins Mosquito Management Program is appropriated in three ways. The majority of funding comes from a general fund from local tax revenue. The Streets and Strom Water Division and FC Natural Areas fund the remainder of the cost for Mosquito Management services. The monies collected from these three areas fund the surveillance monitoring of larval mosquitoes in the water, the application of bio-larvicide control products, the monitoring of adult mosquito populations via mosquito traps throughout the city, and data driven response & control of adult mosquitoes through ULV fogging applications. There is no money set aside for adult mosquito spraying on an annual basis, nor is spraying for adult mosquitoes included in the scope of services provided. If spraying occurs within the city based on West Nile Virus infection in mosquitoes, the city funds spraying through an emergency management fund.

After 6 years of larval control in the City of Fort Collins and buffer areas, the reduction in overall mosquitoes is evident from surveillance data and resident feedback, despite seasonal variation in temperature and rain variables. This environmentally friendly program always uses biological control choices first to reduce mosquito populations at the source…the aquatic larval habitats. Larvicide applications are designed to reduce mosquito populations below established disease thresholds.
The City's Integrated Pest Management program focuses on utilizing naturally occurring soil bacteria, larvicides, to control mosquitoes in the larval stage, instead of relying entirely on application of pesticides in the form of fogging materials. The program primarily utilizes applications of Bti, a stomach toxin, which is target-specific to larval mosquitoes. This naturally occurring bacteria is activated by a specific pH within the larval gut and disrupts the larvae’s ability to consume and digest food resources.
When properly carried out, by trained applicators, IPM programs return beneficial results in reduced pesticide use, reduced frequency of pesticide resistance, and reduced exposure to pesticides by the environment. The Mosquito Management Program offered by CMC follows successful IPM principles for cost effective, scientific methods of survey/ inspection, evaluation, diagnosis, application and record keeping of materials used.

As of 2009, 1,283 larval mosquito habitats are included in the regular inspection and larviciding program for the City of Fort Collins Mosquito Management Program. There were 27 new larval sites added to the routine inspection program in 2009. Field technicians methodically inspect larval habitats twice a week, weekly, bi-weekly or post rainfall, as deemed necessary based off of historical data. A technician may spend the day inspecting a variety of habitats ranging from urban mosquito breeding locations (storm drains, catch basins, wading pools, paddle boats & tire piles), as well as cattail marshes, stagnant ditches, reservoir edges and irrigated pastures. Inspections are performed to determine whether larval mosquitoes are present or not at a site. Once the presence of mosquito larvae is confirmed, larvicides are applied. This enables targeted control, while reducing the miles of city streets that need to be fogged for adult mosquitoes.

The higher-than-normal levels of precipitation during the 2009 season replenished the water table to levels not seen in years for many areas along the Front Range. Rainfall totals remained above average for a majority of the 2009 mosquito season. Although most of the rainfall occurred in early April and June, additional weekly rainfall created numerous larval mosquito habitats and kept things green throughout the season.

With the excess moisture came a corresponding above-average workload for larval mosquito control activities, due to the flushing and refilling of aquatic habitats on a regular basis. In general, many reservoirs and ditches remained full for a large portion of the summer, because irrigation water was not moved as quickly. Many grassy edges and inlets to reservoirs were consistently producing mosquito larvae throughout most of the season. Working with local farmers to understand and recognize the patterns of agricultural irrigation continues to be one of CMC’s ongoing priorities. In 2009, 89% of the total inspected sites were found to be wet and 48.2% were producing mosquito larvae. An estimated 5.5 million larvae were eliminated with larval control products in 2009.

Mosquito populations in the first part of the 2009 season consisted of primarily Aedes spp., known as “floodwater” mosquitoes as their eggs hatch in response to rising water levels resulting from rainfall and/or irrigation. Adult Culex mosquito populations spiked in mid-July. Overall, vector mosquitoes comprised about 50-75% of mosquito collections during July and August, remaining in line with historical averages. This scenario could have played out much differently had the median temperature during early spring been warmer, as occurred in 2003 when the vector Culex mosquitoes had an early population spike. 2009 was different in that we had similar moisture levels, but without the corresponding high temperatures of the 2003 “WNV epidemic” season.

The first West Nile Virus infected mosquitoes were detected in Weld County on July 10, Boulder County on July 13, and Larimer County on July 14. West Nile infection rates in mosquitoes remained below epidemic years and the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) ceased WN testing of mosquitoes on August 14. Dip counts for larval mosquitoes slowed into late August. By the first days of September the species composition of Culex mosquitoes collected from adult trapping dropped to less than 10% of the total counts in most areas.

CMC’s favored method of larval mosquito control is through bacterial bio-rational products. The main product used by CMC is a variety of bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis var. israeliensis). Bti, as it is known, has become the cornerstone of mosquito control programs throughout the world. Most Mosquito Abatement Districts have incorporated Bti applications into their management practices. The benefits of applications using Bti include its efficacy and lack of environmental impacts. When used properly, successful control without impact to aquatic invertebrates, birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, or humans can be achieved. A broad label allows for the use of the product in the majority of the habitats throughout the service area. Another bacterial product closely related to Bti is Bacillus sphaericus (Bsph). In addition to all of the benefits of Bti, Bsph is by definition a true biological control agent in that it remains in the system through multiple broods, or generations, of mosquitoes. Unfortunately, the residual benefit of the control comes at a cost in price at approximately three times that of Bti.

Residents are encouraged to call 970-962-2583 to request a CMC technician to stock ornamental ponds. Fish will be provided in June each season. Please ensure that your pond is at least 3 feet deep, does not contain koi, blue, or other predatory fish, and possesses a soil base bottom so that the fish can survive the winter.

Data on mosquito abundance and species identity is critical in the operation of a successful mosquito management program. Over the past few years, identifying, packaging, and sending Culex mosquito pool samples to the CDC/CDPHE labs for West Nile Virus testing has also become critically important in the battle against West Nile Virus and other mosquito-borne diseases. The purpose of a surveillance program is to be an early warning system. In other words, the system is intended to alert mosquito personnel of an impending health crisis. The key is that the system gives enough advance warning that mosquito control personnel can work with County Health Departments and city officials to take effective steps in minimizing the number of human cases.
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In 2009, Colorado Mosquito Control monitored a statewide network of over 250 trap sites, with over 3,100 trap nights set, collecting more than 499,000 adult mosquitoes that were counted and identified to species by the CMC Surveillance Laboratory. While individual traps provide only limited information, trap data is interpreted in the context of historical records for the same surveillance location, going back in time more than a decade in some locations. Individual traps are also compared to other traps from around the region that were set on the same night and therefore exposed to similar weather conditions. Technicians working in the Surveillance Laboratory at Colorado Mosquito Control, Inc. are trained to provide accurate species identification of mosquito specimens for both adults and larval mosquitoes. More than 50 mosquito species are believed to occur in Colorado and 20 of those were identified from samples processed during the 2009 season from across the state.
CMC employs two kinds of traps to monitor mosquito populations. The CDC light trap uses carbon-dioxide from dry ice as bait to attract female mosquitoes seeking a blood meal from a respiring animal. Once attracted by the CO2, the mosquitoes are lured by a small light to a fan that pulls them into a net for collection. The gravid trap uses a tub of highly-organic water as bait to attract female mosquitoes that are looking for a place to lay their eggs. A fan placed close to the water surface forces mosquitoes that come to the water into a collection bag.
Additionally, the CMC Surveillance Laboratory conducts an intensive larval identification program with over 10, 000 larval mosquito samples collected by I&L technicians. Collections are made prior to larvicide applications and identification of species information is retained in our database. This information is now invaluable in targeting mosquito control efforts as we gain a greater understanding of the habitat types preferred by mosquito species of Colorado and the seasonality of these habitats as sites for mosquito development.

In 2008, an average of 37 surveillance light trap locations (approximately 1 trap per square mile) monitored adult mosquito populations within the city limits of Fort Collins. CDC battery-operated “light traps” were set weekly in each location to provide adult mosquito population data for seasonal comparison and determination of adult mosquito spray zones. Surveillance trapping began May 22nd and trapping was concluded on September 11th with rainfall and cooler temperatures during the first weeks of September.
In 2008, 633 surveillance light traps were set within the City of Fort Collins, which collected 95,372 mosquitoes. The average number of mosquitoes collected per trap per night in 2008 was 151 and the average Culex mosquitoes collected per trap per night was 17. The percent composition of mosquitoes collected in 2008 was 87.7% (83,615) Aedes/Ochlerotatus spp., 1.0% (971) Culiseta spp., .01% (10) Anopheles spp., .19% (189) Coquillettidia spp. and 11.1%(10,595) Culex spp. mosquitoes.

In 2009, an average of 43 CDC surveillance light trap locations monitored adult mosquito populations within the City of Fort Collins. Weather permitting, CDC battery-operated “light traps” were set weekly in each location to provide adult mosquito population data for seasonal comparisons. Surveillance trapping began May 26 and trapping was concluded on September 4, halted by cooler temperatures during the first weeks of September.
In 2009, 592 surveillance light traps were set within City of Fort Collinss, which collected 88,392 total mosquitoes. The average number of mosquitoes collected per trap per night was 149 and the average number of Culex mosquitoes collected per trap per night was 38. The percent composition of mosquitoes collected in 2009 included 72.5% (64,084) Aedes/Ochlerotatus spp., 22.9% (20,233) Culex tarsalis, 2.7% (2,384) Culex pipiens, 1.4% (1,258) Culiseta spp., (less than 1%) (15) Anopheles spp., and .5% (418) Coquillettidia spp. mosquitoes. Note that the graph below includes data for sentinel mosquito surveillance operations which began in 2007, and results in 35 additional traps set annually.
The Sentinel Encephalitis Surveillance Program was funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the City of Fort Collins and the City of Loveland for the third season. CMC maintained the sentinel system with five surveillance traps at permanent locations within a five mile radius (the center point at Fossil Ridge High School). The five surveillance trap locations were FC-04/Bighorn Drive, FC-14/Fort Collins Visitors Center, FC-53/Egret and Rookery, FC-67/Poudre River Trail at Mulberry and Lemay, and LV-095/Waterfront at Boyd Lake. All Culex mosquitoes were sent to and tested by the CDPHE until August 5th. CSU tab completed testing through the remainder of the 2009 season.
There were 107 sentinel surveillance traps set in 2009 for the Larimer County Sentinel Encephalitis Surveillance Program, which collected a total of 28,313 mosquitoes. The average number of mosquitoes collected per trap per night in 2009 was 265 and the average Culex mosquitoes collected per trap per night was 72. The sentinel trapping locations continue to provide the best composition of Culex mosquitoes on an annual basis, when compared to other surveillance locations regardless of season.

WN Virus Mosquito Results 2009

The Vector Index (VI) has been studied by the Centers for Disease Control and is used in assessment for West Nile Virus risk. Wes Nile mosquito infection data was evaluated by the CDC from mosquito collections performed by CMC during the 2003-2008 seasons. The objective for seasonal analysis of WN infection rates in mosquitoes has been to generate a tool that can evaluate the public health risk for West Nile Virus transmission on a weekly basis throughout the mosquito season.
As defined on the CDPHE website, The Vector Index (VI) is a measure of infection rate adjusted for Culex mosquito population size within a given area. The value is an estimate of the number of West Nile Virus infected mosquitoes collected per trap per night. The data suggests that a vector index of .75 or above is an indicator of high risk for West Nile Virus transmission to human in the area. (www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/zoonosis/wnv/wnvsentinel.html)
In 2009 the City of Fort Collins contracted with Colorado State University to test mosquitoes collected by CMC for West Nile Virus. The Vector Index for the City of Fort Collins did not surpass .75 during the 2009 season. A total of 819 mosquito sample pools containing 17,128 Culex mosquitoes collected from City of Fort Collins mosquito surveillance traps were submitted to Colorado State University. In 2009 all vector mosquitoes collected from 43 light traps and 5 gravid trap locations in the City of Fort Collins were submitted to Colorado State University. There were 51 WN+ samples collected from mosquito surveillance traps in the City of Fort Collins. In 2009 a total of 110 mosquito sample pools containing 4,464 Culex mosquitoes were collected from City of Loveland mosquito surveillance traps. The City of Loveland submitted mosquito samples from 5 permanent trap locations, in addition to the sentinel trap location LV-095 to Colorado State University. There were 4 WN+ samples confirmed from surveillance traps in the City of Loveland.

Over 96% of the City of Fort Collins’ mosquito control program is targeted against larval (aquatic stage) mosquitoes utilizing biological control materials, however on occasion adult mosquito suppression becomes necessary. City officials work cooperatively with the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment to monitor mosquito surveillance and West Nile Virus transmission activity in vector populations. If deemed necessary by city officials and Public Health supervisors, Colorado Mosquito Control utilizes 3.3% Permethrin in ultra low volume (ULV) spray applications via truck mounted fogging machines. ULV sprayers dispense an extremely small amount (0.0035 pounds per acre) of fine aerosol droplets which stay aloft and kill adult mosquitoes on contact.
The City of Fort Collins does not have an active adult mosquito control program. Any ULV spraying that occurs in Fort Collins is done so in response to elevated West Nile infection in mosquitoes, and comes with approval of the City Manager and Larimer County Health Dept. officials.
Permethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid similar to the insecticide pyrethrum which occurs naturally in chrysanthemum plants. Permethrin is found in a variety of products, including household insecticides, flea dips, repellent for clothing, sprays for pets, and lice shampoos. This pesticide has been selected to achieve effective control of mosquitoes and suppression of West Nile Virus transmission with the least impact on human health and the environment. Fogging applications are performed only within the first few hours after sunset because this is the most active period for mosquitoes, when they emerge from the vegetation after the hottest part of the day has passed. All insecticides used by Colorado Mosquito Control are registered by the EPA and the Colorado State Department of Agriculture.
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Permethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid similar to the insecticide pyrethrum which occurs naturally in chrysanthemum plants. Permethrin is found in a variety of products, including household insecticides, flea dips, repellent for clothing, sprays for pets, and lice shampoos. This pesticide has been selected to achieve effective control of mosquitoes and suppression of West Nile Virus transmission with the least impact on human health and the environment.
Colorado Mosquito Control uses state of the art technology, correct application timing, and least-toxic products to minimize non-target impacts. All adult mosquito control is accomplished using calibrated Ultra Low Volume (ULV) equipment and performed after dusk. This type of equipment produces droplets averaging 12 microns in diameter and allows for a minimal amount of product to be put into the environment. These treatments take place in the evening when mosquitoes are flying in greater numbers and non-target activity is greatly reduced. Using this application technique, the overall goal of minimal environmental impact and effective adult control is achieved in the targeted area. All insecticides used by Colorado Mosquito Control are registered by the EPA and the Colorado State Department of Agriculture.

Upon request, residents can be notified prior to spraying with Permethrin insecticides. Call & Shutoff forms are available online and may be submitted via CMC website or by mail. Please note that a shutoff does not guarantee that drift of insecticide material will not occur and may decrease the effectiveness of adulticiding on mosquitoes in your immediate area. The call shutoff list is a service that CMC provide to residents and may be obsolete in the case of a West Nile Virus Public Health emergency, as experienced in 2003. For additional information regarding permethrin, including toxicology data please visit:
www.comosquitocontrol.com and click on the tab for pesticides.
Note: 2003 and 2007 ULV spraying occurred as a result of elevated infection rates for West Nile in tested mosquitoes.

Note: 2003 and 2007 ULV spraying occurred as a result of elevated infection rates for West Nile in tested mosquitoes.

The development of our online dashboard continues to be a success! In many municipalities the link to CMC’s dashboard from the contracted areas webpage has provided transparency of data for mosquito control operations directly to the residents. From the dashboard, data for specific mosquito traps, acres of larvicides applied, ULV miles sprayed and West Nile Virus positive mosquito locations can be accessed from the page options. Interactive reports on the dashboard are updated on a daily basis to contain all current data throughout the season. CMC encourages the distribution of this link to enable faster reporting about operations and answers to inquiries from the community.

Our website, www.comosquitocontrol.com, is the leading website in the State of Colorado when it comes to providing up-to-date, factual, and comprehensive information on, and links to, mosquito biology and control, mosquito-borne diseases, pesticide toxicology information, and a wealth of topics relating to mosquitoes.
CMC feels that the City of Fort Collins Client Page, Data Dashboard Page and daily posting of spray schedules on our website is a great way to keep residents informed about the mosquito control operations within their community. Our website continues to serve an integral part of the dissemination of operational data to the citizens with little request for resources or time required by the city and its employees.

For 23 years CMC has believed in and demonstrated that a strong Public Outreach and Education Program is one of the keys to success in providing large-scale municipal mosquito control programs. Citizen complaints, inquiries, information, and satisfaction surveys can aid in evaluating the effectiveness of a program. CMC constantly looks for ways to better serve the communities we work with and appreciates the citizen involvement in the betterment of the programs we offer. We have clearly demonstrated that commitment and belief by proactively serving the Fort Collins’ community (and all of our contracted communities) with numerous innovative programs, activities and services as described in the following section.

MosquitoLine™
CMC offers a toll-free (in Colorado) telephone line: (877) 276-4306 as well as our local number, and will accept calls from the public concerning, but not limited to the following:

ImmediateResponse™
CMC introduced the concept of a 24 hour guaranteed response/resolution time to all mosquito annoyance complaints in 1994 with our trademarked ImmediateResponse™ System. CMC will continue to respond accordingly to all mosquito related complaints and will refer any service related complaints to the City of Fort Collins.

Free Fish Stocking Program
CMC will continue to work with Fort Collins residents to supply larvivorous fish to those residents with ornamental and closed-system ponds that are not currently stocked with fish and that may be producing mosquito problems in their neighborhoods. CMC technicians will physically visit the resident’s homes to distribute fish and confirm that the pond is a viable habitat for fish.

“Prevention & Protection” Presentations
CMC offers all resident committees, homeowner’s associations, or employers the option to have a member of CMC staff provide informative presentations about personal protection, repellents, West Nile Virus activity and ways to reduce mosquitoes by dumping/ draining standing water. These presentations work in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment’s Fight the Bite campaign.

Backyard Inspection Program
CMC employs a full time technician solely assigned to inspecting residential backyards and educating residents about the Fight the Bite campaign. Backyard inspections will reduce container breeding WNV vector mosquitoes and increase public contact and program involvement.