Mosquito Spraying Mosquito Spraying

2026 Mosquito Management and Prevention Strategy

Program Overview: The City of Monte Vista’s comprehensive mosquito management program
focuses on improving public safety, reducing local mosquito populations, and mitigating vector-
borne health risks. Our strategy relies on habitat reduction, larval elimination, systematic
trapping, and targeted adult mosquito spraying.

City Operations and Treatment Methods
Due to specific staffing limitations, the City of Monte Vista does not utilize manual backpack
pesticide sprayers. Instead, the 2026 operations follow an integrated, highly efficient mechanical
approach optimized for community-wide coverage.

1. Adult Mosquito Control (ULV Fogging)
Our primary operational line against active adult populations consists of weekly broad-vehicle
Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) cold-fogging aerosol treatments. This modern method allows for
widespread coverage with minimal product volume by generating microscopic droplets that
hang in the air to eliminate mosquitoes on contact.
● Schedule: Weekly on Thursday evenings, beginning at 8:00 p.m.
● Season Commencement: June 11, 2026
● Routes: Detailed maps of this season's exact fogging routes can be downloaded directly
from the official City website.

2. Product and Route Information (PermX™ UL 4-4)
New for the 2026 season, the City is utilizing PermX™ UL 4-4, a specialized ready-to-use
adulticide consisting of 4% Permethrin and 4% Piperonyl Butoxide (PBO). This formulation
provides quick knockdown performance in residential and recreational areas.

Manufacturer Statement of Safe Uses:
According to the manufacturer guidelines, PermX™ UL 4-4 is explicitly recommended and
formulated for application as a ULV Thermal or Non-thermal aerosol (Cold Fog) across
residential, recreational, industrial, and urban areas where mosquitoes are prevalent. Per EPA
approved labeling, it is intended for use by federal, state, tribal, or local government officials
responsible for public health or vector control, or by certified pesticide applicators. Applications
are strategically scheduled during evening hours to effectively target vectors while minimizing
direct exposure to non-target beneficial insects, such as honeybees, which are active during
daylight hours.

3. Larval Control and Source Reduction
A proactive treatment workflow is maintained concurrently to halt the breeding cycle before
mosquitoes transition into biting adults. Dedicated street crews systematically distribute
specialized larvicide briquettes into standing water sources located within public Rights of Way
and on City-owned property.

4. Vector Trapping and Testing
Also new for 2026, the City has also purchased two traps to assist with monitoring local
populations by trapping adult mosquitoes. Staff isolate and identify specific species known to
carry severe disease vectors, such as the West Nile virus. Once a sample is verified to contain
a specific disease vector species, laboratory testing will subsequently be performed on those
samples to trace threat indicators.

Resident Education & Prevention: How You Can Help

Public participation is vital to the success of this program. Mosquitoes require standing water to
breed, and property owners can dramatically cut local populations by managing private
infrastructure.

Eliminating Breeding Habitats on Your Property
Please audit your property weekly and drain standing water wherever it collects. Pay close
attention to these common residential areas:

Personal Protection & Avoiding Mosquito Bites

Protect yourself and your family from West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses by
adopting these personal defense protocols:
● Dress Appropriately: Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts and full-length
pants.

● Choose Proper Clothing: Select light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, as mosquitoes are
naturally drawn to darker colors and can easily bite through tight fabrics.
● Apply Approved Repellent: Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing proven
active ingredients like DEET.
● Time Outdoor Activity: Limit prolonged outdoor exposure around dawn and dusk, which
represent peak feeding and flight periods for vector species.
Trusted Public Health Educational Resources
For more detailed insights regarding comprehensive mosquito prevention, structural
remediation, and vector management safety standards, residents are strongly encouraged to
consult the following public health resources:
● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Offers comprehensive guides on
West Nile Virus tracking, symptoms, and preventing mosquito bites.
● Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Provides resources on choosing the correct
insect repellent and evaluates the safety profile of public health insecticides.