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The Cumberland County Mosquito Questions and Answers
Cumberland County Mosquito Control is a division of the Public Works Department of Cumberland County. We are involved in all aspects of mosquito control. We have three full-time inspectors that will inspect known mosquito "hot spots" for the presence of mosquitoes and will treat as necessary. In addition, these inspectors will respond to service requests called in by the county residents by inspecting and treating, if necessary, the areas that are in question. We also have an entomologist who assists in inspections and control, and is responsible for mosquito surveillance, through the use of various types of mosquito traps, and for mosquito identification. In addition, the entomologist is responsible for public education, and will conduct educational programs for schools, civic groups, and other organizations, if requested to do so. Our agency also participates in a program that is coordinated by Rutgers University and the Office of Mosquito Control Coordination, a division of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. This program involves the sampling of mosquitoes from various areas throughout the county and the sending of them to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to have them tested for both West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. If any sampled mosquitoes test positive for either virus, we will intensify our inspection and control efforts in the areas where these mosquitoes are found in an attempt to minimize possible risk to county residents and their horses.  Cumberland County Mosquito Control uses an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to controlling mosquitoes. This approach utilizes several methods of pest control, including mechanical control, biological control, and chemical control. We also employ heavy-equipment operators who use various types of large machinery to engage in water management practices, or source reduction, in order to remove or modify mosquito-breeding habitats. Source reduction is the largest part of our mosquito control program, and in many cases, can permanently affect mosquito population levels. Biological control can also be very effective in controlling mosquitoes. In this aspect of our program, we identify isolated, permanent bodies of water and introduce minnows or mosquitofish to feed on the mosquito larvae. Our chemical control program consists of the application of larvicides, to kill the immature mosquito stages, and adulticides, to kill the flying adults. Typically, the non-chemical methods are preferred; however, pesticides are necessary if the other methods are ineffective or not feasible. It is very important that we get as much help from the general public as we possibly can to make our program a success. It can be a futile endeavor employing various mosquito control methods if our residents are breeding mosquitoes in their own backyards! Here are some tips that will keep mosquitoes from breeding in your backyard:
In Cumberland County we use larvicides and adulticides to control mosquitoes. The larvicides that we use include: Altosid - active ingredient is methoprene Vectobac - active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis The adulticides that we use include: Fyfanon - active ingredient is malathion Scourge - active ingredients are resmethrin and piperonyl butoxide Altosid is used as 30-day or 150-day briquets, which are placed directly in water, or as a liquid by aircraft. Vectobac is applied as a liquid to water with a compressed air sprayer. Fyfanon is applied as an Ultra-Low-Volume (ULV) spray either by ground equipment or by aircraft. Scourge is applied as an ULV spray by ground equipment. All products used are registered with both the USEPA and NJDEP, which means that they are legal for use in New Jersey. In addition, our Division supervisor, all of our inspectors, and our entomologist are licensed applicators by the NJDEP. For further information about the pesticides and their use, please refer to the accompanying NJDEP-approved Fact Sheets. If you would like us to inspect your property, if you want to report a mosquito-breeding habitat, or you would like help with anything else that is mosquito-related, please call 856-453-2195, Monday - Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. If you would like to speak directly to the entomologist, call 856-453-2170, Monday - Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. If you do not get an answer at the Cumberland County number, call Salem County Mosquito Commission at 856-769-3255 and ask for the entomologist, as she works for both counties, alternating weeks. To report a dead or ill bird, call the Health Department at 856-453-2150. For general information:
Call the Cumberland County Mosquito Control Division at 856-453-2195. Attached is an example of a newspaper notice that the Division places in 2 local newspapers throughout the mosquito control treatment season. The two newspapers that are utilized are the Atlantic City Press and the Bridgeton Evening News. A citizen has the right to ask the Cumberland County Mosquito Control Division for specific information about a planned application in the county prior to the application. As required by law, the Cumberland County Department of Public Works Mosquito Control Division has established this information for the benefit of the public at large in order to provide advance notice of the division's mosquito spraying activities. |
