For over two decades, the City of Geneva has maintained a fully integrated, comprehensive community control program that employs a strong emphasis on larval mosquito control (controlling the population of mosquitoes in the larval or egg stage of their life cycle). The City of Geneva establishes program structure and specifications and makes use of those standards in contracting for the implementation of the program. Geneva’s program employs the following elements:
1. Larval Site Monitoring - Extensive inspection of 37 known and 93 potential mosquito-breeding sites throughout the City and Township on a 14 day cycle to detect active breeding and implement larvicide applications as required. Most of these inspections require access by foot.
2. Helicopter Prehatch Larviciding – 3 helicopter larviciding applications at strategic times during the breeding season to approximately 114 acres of open water throughout the City and Township to confirm treatment to areas of difficult access. Geneva utilizes environmentally safe products for larval control that biologically interrupts development of the mosquito larvae and thereby reduce the numbers of adult mosquitoes that develop.
3. Mosquitofish Stocking - Annual stocking of all permanent water features (ponds, retention basins, etc.) located within the City deploying 7,500 Gambusia affinis for biological larval mosquito control.
4. Catch Basin Control – 4 treatments of approximately 2,850 catch basins, inlets, and manholes through out the City of Geneva with a slow release formulation of Altosid Insect Growth Regulators (IGR) impregnated in briquettes. In addition, 1 application of longer-lasting Altosid briquettes is made to 150 rear-yard catch basins.
5. Adult Mosquito Monitoring – The City of Geneva utilizes New Jersey Light traps installed in two locations to monitor the adult mosquito population. Light traps are serviced three times per week. Technicians sort and count the mosquitoes that are trapped. Light trap reports are transmitted to the City for evaluation and record-keeping. Information from the light trap monitoring network is a factor when making decisions to implement adult mosquito control measures.
6. Adult Mosquito Control – When a health advisory recommendation (West Nile Virus, St. Louis Encephalitis, etc.) exists, community-wide ULV (Ultra Low Volume) treatments with a synthetic pyrethroid may be implemented. This measure is a method of last resort in the mosquito management program, and is employed only when all other forms of control have been ineffective. One challenge that is inherent in Geneva’s geographical position is that adult mosquitoes have the ability to migrate 10-20 miles. As such, many adult
mosquitoes are produced outside of our jurisdiction/program treatment area and are carried by prevailing westerly winds into Geneva, circumventing our larval control efforts. Geneva always attempts to schedule adult mosquito control ULV applications in cooperation with other local governments (such as the cities and townships of St. Charles and Batavia) to optimize the results of ULV applications. City of Geneva website notices are provided to the public in advance of adult mosquito control ULV applications.
2013 SEASON PERSPECTIVE AND PLANNING
West Nile Virus has dominated our focus since 2002 and will continue to do so during the 2013 control season. In an effort to implement a reasonable, pro-active management strategy for the 2013 season, and with regard to WNV in particular, Geneva will maintain its enhanced mosquito management efforts during 2013 with the following measures:
ULV Applications: Geneva has budgeted for four adult mosquito control ULV applications in 2013. This allows Geneva to be prepared to implement ULV applications on a timely basis, as required, to respond to the presence of the virus.
RECOMMEDATIONS FOR GENEVA RESIDENTS
During the 2013 season, residents are urged to take the following actions to reduce mosquito production and the risks associated with West Nile Virus:
1. Apply mosquito repellent during periods of outdoor exposure, especially at dusk.
2. Eliminate areas of standing water such as roof gutters, pails, etc.
3. Clean and change the water in bird baths and other items at least every 5 to 7 days to avoid mosquito breeding.
4. Call the Mosquito Hotline at 1-800-942-2555 to report mosquito annoyance and other service matters.
5. Any questions regarding the City of Geneva Mosquito Management Program, please call the Geneva Public Works Department at 232-1501.
RELATED FILES
2013 Geneva Season Perspective
Natular Brochure
