Itching for Answers? Smack Down Mosquitos with Expert Advice from Martyn Hafley

Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes (Ae.) albopictus

There’s a growing number of disease threats associated with mosquitos. West Nile Virus, encephalitis, Dengue Fever, Filariasis, Malaria, Chikungunya and Zika are the most prevalent in the news. Although in many parts of the country, it’s not considered “mosquito season,” it’s time to put a program together.
 
“Mosquitos are cold blooded-animals and as the temperatures rise they get active. It’s critical for commercial applicators and municipalities to be proactive as the weather begins to warm,” says Martyn Hafley, National Sales Director at WinField® Solutions.  

WinField® has answers to all your questions about mosquito management. When controlling mosquitos, successful applicators use an integrated program. First, you must treat mosquito larva in standing water breeding areas.  Next adult mosquitos are controlled with barrier treatments which are applied to foliage, vegetation and other structures where mosquitos tend to land and rest.

Using a labeled insecticide containing a pyrethoid in your Solo 451 Backpack Mist Blower, combined with patented adjuvants by WinField® and a growth regulator such as Pyriproxyfen, will help you achieve optimal suppression for 2-3 weeks. “Although the components will work separately in some capacity, combining them into one integrated program is critical for control,” says Hafley.
 
A growth regulator like Altosid®, which is a fine granular or charcoal briquet formulation, is also an option to control breeding of immature mosquitos in standing water.
 
WinField® has two adjuvants we recommend for your mosquito misting program:
 
Droplex® adjuvant reduces the amount of fine particles in the spray pattern and increases droplet speed without thickening the spray or encapsulating the product. By keeping more spray droplets within the most effective size range, Droplex® adjuvant reduces drift and evaporation, and improves coverage.
 
AirCover® adjuvant contains organosilicone and nonionic surfactants to promote fast spreading, uniform distribution and absorption of spray products. AirCover® adjuvant can be used with herbicides,
insecticides, fungicides, nutrients and other pesticides to improve coverage and uptake.
 
For more information on how Droplex® and AirCover® improves spray coverage, check this out this sheet on mosquito management.
 
You can also check out best practices for mosquito misting on the golf course here. 
 
Remember to always read and follow label directions.
 
Contact your WinField® Expert for more information.