The Mosquito Abatement District’s program is based upon scientific approaches that have been incorporated into a compre¬hensive strategy of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), an approach that includes the following components: larval site monitoring, biological control, and the careful and strategic use of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency labeled and registered pesticide products.
Mosquito Life Cycle
Mosquito deposit their eggs on the inside walls of containers such as fountains, buckets, tires, etc.
The district participates in the state wide surveillance system by maintaining two sentinel chicken flocks, testing dead wild birds, and by trapping mosquitoes for testing with CO2 baited traps. Combined, these give us a warning ahead of time each season about the activity of the virus.
The chickens are bled once every two weeks during the months of May through October. The chickens represent a critical element of the District’s surveillance program and help to prevent any transmission of SLE, WEE and WNV to the human population.
The District operates an ongoing program throughout the year to monitor for the presence of mosquito borne viral activity. Whenever a virus is detected in a particular area, mosquito control procedures are intensified to reduce mosquito populations in order to reduce the potential risk for humans or animals contracting West Nile Virus.
Report dead birds on your property to The West Nile Virus and Dead Bird Hotline (877) 986-BIRD (2473) dead birds (crows, blue jays and raptors) can be the first indicators of the presence of West Nile Virus in the area.
You can protect your horse by having it vaccinated for WNV. The best time to have your horse vaccinated is early spring. Contact your veterinarian to get your horse vaccinated correctly.
A neglected pool has abundant organic matter or bacterial growth, often with leaves or other debris, resulting in green to blackish-colored water.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM MOSQUITO BITES BY USING REPELLENTS!
Before you go outside, apply a repellent containing DEET
To report a neglected pool contact:
Madera County M&VCD
3105 Airport Dr. Madera, CA. 93637
(559) 662-8880
Mosquito Fish
Mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis)
Mosquito fish have brown-olive green backs, sometimes with silver grey yellow tinges, and silver bellies. Males average about 1 1/4 inches in length: females range from 1 to 2 1/2 inches in length. The species was described in 1854, and it’s value to mosquito control recognized in the early 1900’s. originally it was found in the southern United States, Mexico and Cuba. It has become spread through many parts of the world, and has adapted to many habitats, including cooler climates. Some strains can survive for short periods in shallow water under thin ice, but temperatures below 65 degrees F., and less than 14 hours of sunlight per day usually prevent reproduction. Mosquito fish bear live young in broods of 40 to 100 or more. Most females die after producing three or four broods. They nay drop all of their young in one season or part in the next. Mosquito fish have controlled mosquito larvae in rice fields when planted early in the season at the rate of 300 per acre. Efficiency can be increased by eliminating larger predator fish before planting mosquito fish, by providing water circulation and holding reservoirs, by deepening channels, and by controlling weeds.
Madera County Mosquito and Vector Control District stocks area permanent ponds with mosquito fish, and makes a concerted effort to stock semi-permanent bodies of water within the District’s boundaries beginning in March and April of every year. The mosquito fish, proven to be efficient predator of mosquito larvae, has a wide range of temperature tolerance, and will thrive unless it’s water is highly polluted. Since they have a high reproduction rate during summer months, a relatively small beginning population will build up fairly to whatever population level any given pond will support,
The District maintains holding ponds of mosquito fish for Madera County residents who want to stock their own ponds or watering troughs. Anyone wishing to pick up starter stock of mosquito fish should call our district a day in advance, bring a container preferably a 5 gallon bucket or large ice chest, and make arrangements to minimize the time fish are in transport.
Reporting Dead Birds
All dead bird pickups have to be routed thought the dead bird hot line. 1-877-968-2473 or Contact the California West Nile Hotline by clicking the Crow Picture below.
Information for controlling Other Vectors
Madera County Mosquito and Vector Control District is not funded to perform physical control of any vectors other than mosquitoes. The District can, however, act in advisory capacity for property owners and residents who wish to resolve other vector problems. These potential vectors include flies, fleas, ticks, spiders and rodents! etc. District personnel will supply information concerning biological cycles, habitat manipulation, exclusion methods, and potential pesticide application recommendations.
Neglected Swimming Pools
Poorly maintained pools can provide a fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes, the prime culprit in spreading WNV. A significant percentage of mosquito complaints stem from neglected pools. Abandoned and neglected swimming pools have always been a problem, but now with West Nile Virus and Foreclosures nearing record levels ,it’s extremely important to treat neglected pools as soon as possible.
Pre-spray Notification List
Madera Co. MVCD has a mandate and obligation to reduce adult mosquito populations in order to minimize the public’s risk to mosquito-borne disease. All of the mosquito adulticides used by the district personnel are registered with, and approved for use in mosquito control programs by the California EPA, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the California Department of Public Health. The District has and will continue to use mosquito adulticides as a last resort only, and in the lowest applications rates possible to achieve acceptable results. Most large-scale adulticide applications are performed in the early morning hours : between 3:00 and 5:00 A.M. Residential areas are avoided except in case of emergency involving immediate public risk to mosquito-borne disease.
However, if in spite of theses precautions, any resident remains concerned about the possible use of a pesticide in their area, a notification list is provided. When your name is added to this list you will be notified before any adulticiding is done in your immediate area, and advised of any possible precautions you might want to take. In some instances, your specific residence may be excluded from the spray area.