Laura Mahecha
Director, Agrochemicals
Vector control is a key element of public health, and our recent survey of U.S. mosquito abatement districts has revealed some interesting findings regarding mosquito control methods and resistance management.
Larvicides, barrier treatments, and adulticides are used to varying degrees by mosquito abatement professionals. Usually, larvicides are used in granule or briquet forms, and adulticides are used in liquid forms. Typically, about one-quarter of mosquito abatement districts’ budgets are spent on insecticides, with some districts indicating as much as 35–40% of spending. Some popular brands mentioned include Clarke’s Anvil, Natular G, Zenivex, Talstar and Suspend by Envu, Demand (Syngenta), Altosid (Central Life Sciences), and Vectobac and Vectomax by Valent Biosciences. Many districts indicate that they are moving toward more electric-powered sprayers in an effort to convert equipment to be safer and more environmentally friendly.
West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and St. Louis Encephalitis are the predominant diseases that are being monitored and controlled, as the incidence of these diseases changes with fluctuations in weather, including heat and rainfall. Mosquito abatement district respondents indicate they are battling insect resistance to several conventional active ingredients and are using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach that includes rotating larvicides and adulticides, incorporating biological active ingredients, source reduction, and increased larval surveillance to effectively control mosquito populations in their districts.
Our Mosquito Control U.S. report, to be published in December, provides details on usage, resistance, and methods of control in 2025, along with brand-level sales data on the public health vector control market in the U.S. and how this market is expected to perform in the future through 2030. For more details about the mosquito abatement districts survey, our data, and the report, please contact us.
