What Have We Learned: A Conversation on 15 Years of Spinosad Use in Public Health Symposium
What Have We Learned: A Conversation on 15 Years of Spinosad Use in Public Health Symposium
The Pasco County Mosquito Control District has a long history of focusing on a proactive, comprehensive approach to controlling mosquitoes. Larvicide applications play a major role in the District’s operation, which covers over 750 square miles. In the early years of the District, staff utilized mosquito ditches to keep salt marsh mosquito populations to a tolerable level. Chemical control options have become more numerous over the years as the District worked to create a comprehensive, integrated mosquito management program. Larvicide options used have ranged from predominantly single to multi-brood products. Pasco County, Florida is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation and the District has worked to increase it’s workforce and fleet. However, additional growth is still necessary to keep up with the demands of a rapidly growing community. Over the past few years, the District has increased its use of residual larvicide products, like Spinosad, which has allowed staff ample time to discover new mosquito production sites to more effectively manage mosquitoes county-wide.