Show All Answers

1. Does the CSRD treat for mosquitos in the entire CSRD?

No. The CSRD currently administers three mosquito control programs for the reduction of the nuisance effect of mosquitos in:

• Golden and Electoral Area A
• Revelstoke and Electoral Area B

2. Does the CSRD treat in Provincial Parks?

Not at this time. To conduct mosquito nuisance control in provincial parks, authorization is required from the Ministry of Environment. In a July 8, 2019 decision, the ministry denied the CSRD's application for a park use permit for mosquito control in Shuswap Lake Park and Tsutswecw Park. View Ministry of Environment Decision (PDF).

3. Does treating for mosquitos harm frogs and other pond life?

No the program uses the larvicide Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis) is a biological or a naturally occurring bacterium found in soils,

The larvicides used such as Aquabac, Vectobac, and VectoLex are species-specific, affecting only aquatic members of the Order Diptera, which includes mosquitoes, black flies and midges, and do not impact non-pest and beneficial insects such as pollinators and predators.

4. How is treatment for mosquitos done?

The programs are based on the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), in that the most environmentally sensitive methods of control are considered first. Prevention and reduction of mosquito larval development sites are the first objective of the CSRD.

The vast majority of the CSRD mosquito control campaigns is focused on controlling mosquitoes while they are in their larval stages, (as opposed to their adult stage) for two primary reasons. Larval control is much more efficient than adult control - it is possible to treat larval mosquitoes in very high concentrations in larval development ponds, while adult mosquitoes tend to disperse soon after emerging over a much wider area.

When habitat monitoring determines that treatment is required, pellets of larvicide are applied by hand or by helicopter during the mosquito larva 3rd or 4th instar phase of development. View the Pest Management Plan (PDF).

5. The CSRD provides mosquito control in my area. Why are there still mosquitos out?

The program is in place to reduce the mosquito annoyance only, complete elimination would be extremely expensive and likely not possible.

6. Why are the mosquitos bad some years and good some years?

In general, the weather and available mosquito larval development sites affect the amount of mosquitoes in an area.

When we have a lot of standing water available there is typically more mosquito larva produced.

Cycles of wet weather to hot weather to wet weather again tend to produce more mosquito hatches and result in a bad year. Conversely, if we have a cool, wet spring followed by a hot and dry summer there are fewer mosquitoes and it is considered a good year.