2. Weed/Vector summer reports - Laserfiche WebLink

RECEIVED JUL 2 9 2004 CASS COUN ry COMMISSION 2004 Vector Control Review The vector control program is based on an integrated pest management system. This involves three steps: surveillance, adulticiding and larviciding. Thirty-seven vector control employees are divided into four crews to accomplish these tasks. Adulticiding: Sixteen trucks with ultra low volume foggers make up a very noticeable part of our program. We have sprayed the cities of Fargo and West Fargo twelve times, including one aerial application. Parks, public attractions, and special events are sprayed regularly by our Park crew. We have used 438 gallons of insecticide to control adult mosquitoes. Larviciding: Twenty seasonal employees and two supervisors are dedicated to treating standing water in metro and rural Cass County. Accuracy has been improved in 2004 with a new system of mapping using GIS technology. With the help of backpacks and all-terrain vehicles, the crews have covered over 5,600 acres this season; putting out over 10,000 pounds of material. Surveillance: Twenty-eight New Jersey light traps are positioned throughout the metro area and smaller towns in Cass County. Data collected from these traps is used to determine the severity of the risk for disease transmission. This also helps us to determine problem areas for breeding and housing mosquitoes, leading to active area source reductions and education by employees. Testing for West Nile Virus, Saint Louis Encephalitis, and Western Equine Encephalitis is carried out in our laboratory, and mosquito pools have so far tested negative.