SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Central Garden & Pet and its professional products mosquito control group, whose founders invented insect growth regulator (IGR) technology more than 35 years ago, announced the purchase of New York based FourStar Microbial Products, to complement its mosquito control business.

FourStar products are derived from naturally-occurring soil bacteria that stop juvenile mosquitoes from emerging into flying, breeding, disease-spreading adults, and along with the mosquito group’s cornerstone Altosid  and Zenivex products, will provide Mosquito Abatement Districts (MADs) and public health officials a full range of solutions for mosquito control. 

“The addition of FourStar products to our mosquito control portfolio will help MADs and public health agencies to choose from a full range of products and protect the public from mosquito populations in the fight against diseases such as West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis and dengue fever,” said John Neberz, business manager of mosquito control products.

FourStar products contain the proven microbial active ingredients and Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) and Bacillus sphaericus (Bsph) and are currently available in a variety of formulations, including 45-day, 90-day and 180-day briquets and a Single Brood Granule (SBG). In 2013 additional formulations including Multi-Brood Granule formulations and Water Soluble Pouch packaging will also be made available.