Edmonton Eliminates Aerial Mosquito Spraying, Turns Focus to Natural Control Methods

As reported by CBC News, the Edmonton City Council in April voted to end aerial spraying of pesticides to control mosquitoes. Instead, it will use the $507,000 requested for this service to control mosquito larvae in standing water and undertake biological mosquito control methods and education initiatives.

Edmonton will take “robust and targeted ground and ditch control measures,” according to a city news release. This involves using a natural product derived from soil bacteria to control mosquito larvae that develop in the standing water of ditches and low-lying areas after snowmelt and rainfall.

“The aim of our ground control is to keep the size of the waves of mosquitoes that emerge after major rainfall to lower, more tolerable levels,” said Philip Herritt, director of infrastructure operations for the city of Edmonton. “Our approach has been to control, not eliminate mosquitoes, while protecting other organisms in the environment.”

The city also plans to use novel biological technology, habitat modification, enhanced biodiversity surveillance and monitoring and enhanced mosquito program monitoring.

Its Integrated Pest Management team is working with naturalist groups to develop habitats that allow mosquito predators like dragonflies and bats to flourish. Developing other biological control options will be reviewed as the season progresses.

Operational enhancements will increase the city’s understanding of the efficacy of alternative techniques for mosquito control and allow it to make informed decisions for program modifications in the future.

Some efforts to control mosquitoes with federally approved pesticides remain in place, reported the city.