We just don't guess and unnecessarily throw chemicals at the mosquitoes in hope of a positive outcome, we have a plan! To effectively control mosquitoes within the South Cook County Mosquito Abatement District, a comprehensive approach is implemented, one that has not only been scientifically tested but also proven to work.
SCCMAD utilizes the experience drawn from decades of local work to control our mosquito population and guidelines prepared by both, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that can look at factors outside of our community that can greatly enhance the effectiveness of our efforts.
The CDC and EPA have collaborated together by looking at the biological information about the life and reproduction of the mosquito, and the epidemiological information about the diseases that they transmit. Armed with this information they developed a methodology on how best to control mosquitoes across the globe.
Surveillance is the cornerstone of a quality Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) or Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. SCCMAD is experienced in all methods of larval and adult mosquito surveillance and identification. Larval surveillance allows us to identify and treat breeding sites, often eliminating the problem before adult mosquitoes appear. Adult surveillance is the process of understanding how the population and its distribution of the adult mosquitoes are in a given area. This is a critical factor in determining how to control mosquitoes and whether there is a disease risk in the community.
UUnfortunately there is no way to completely eradicate the whole mosquito species throughout our community, however there are ways to cripple and control the mosquito population. In conjunction with the surveillance and prevention control of our Integrated Pest Management Plan, we take in all factors as we go on the offensive to neutralize as much of the mosquito population as possible. This will include actively spraying areas that our surveillance technicians have flagged as a hot spot of adult mosquitoes or an active breeding ground.
South Cook County Mosquito Abatement District goes to great lengths to combat the breeding of the mosquito population by attacking them at the larva and adult stages of their life-cycle.
As much as we work to control the mosquito population, you can also help by policing your yard for mosquito breeding grounds, reporting dead birds and utilizing personal protective measures such as a mosquito repellent for your own personal safety.