1. City of Saskatoon: Pest Management Division – Mosquito Control - DAY 1

2. Pest Management in Saskatoon The city of Saskatoon uses the “Integrated Pest Management” (IPM) System which includes the following: –Planning and executing effective pest management techniques –Setting thresholds based on health and environmental needs –Surveillance, identification and detection of pests –Evaluation of the effectiveness of techniques to ensure maximum success –Communication with the public to keep them informed of pest management activities

3. Common Pests in Saskatoon: ______________________________________ The City of Saskatoon is committed to using the __________________ control methods possible –The use of _________________________________ and only put into action when __________________ effective alternatives are available

4. Mosquitoes Belong to the order Diptera –Biting, _____________________________________ –___________________ group of insects –_____________________ species of mosquitoes in Sask. Have specialized _______________________________ –Sword like mouth that punctures the skin and forces its way into a blood vessel Require a _____________________ –Blood is required by ___________________ mosquitoes ________________________ mosquitoes bite –Blood is used as a protein to help ________________________ –As a result, they are a nuisance to humans when they bite Saliva contains a protein which causes an allergic reaction in our skin, leaving us with ________________________

5. Life Cycle of a Mosquito

6. Mosquito Life Cycle: 1) Eggs Eggs are laid by _________________________ mosquitoes Eggs are laid where there is, or will be ___________________ Eggs tend to be laid in _________________________ Many eggs can be laid in the summer/fall of one season and remain _________________ over the winter –Eggs are then capable of hatching the ________________________ when the snow melts and forms pools of standing water

7. Mosquito Life Cycle: 2) Larva Longest stage of development –Takes approx _________________ Found along the __________________________ Feed on ___________________ in the water Breathe using a siphon tube that extends out of the water Known as __________________ due to the characteristic movement that they make Prime stage for ___________________________ mosquitoes

8. Mosquito Life Cycle: 3) Pupa Shaped like a _________ Known as a __________ based on its style of movement –Pupa tumble quickly through the water Difficult stage because it ____________________ to pesticide treatment –______________________ with pesticides; mosquitoes will definitely hatch into adults Stage lasts approximately ____________________ and then the mosquito leaves the water as an adult

9. Mosquito Life Cycle: 4) Adult These are the mosquitoes we are used to seeing Males travel in ________________ to attract females –Male mosquitoes ______________ Females travel ______________ to find swarms to reproduce Females then require a _________ –Need blood for egg development –This is why we get bitten Mosquitoes are most prevalent between _____________________ Mosquitoes are most active around _______________________ and on __________________________

10. Treatment of mosquitoes during their LARVAL stage is the most effective –Larva is easy to locate Can ONLY develop in ____________________________________ This is the ONLY stage where mosquito populations are ______________________________________________________ –Larva is easy to identify Wrigglers can easily be ___________________ with the naked eye –Larva is easy to treat with pesticide Larvacide is easily ______________________________________ –Pesticide is least harmful to humans and the environment Larvacide is a ___________________________ pesticide ________________________ to humans and other animals Bacteria that ONLY targets ________________________________ Does _____________________________ the environment –Treating adult mosquitoes is too invasive and dangerous Pesticide is highly toxic; ______________________________ Impossible to predict where large numbers of adult mosquitoes will be; equally impossible to kill them all

11. Fighting Mosquitoes: Step 1- Identify the Larval Habitat Remember: Mosquito larva NEEDS a warm, shallow, standing water environment to grow Examples of standing water environments include: –____________________________ ___________________________, and any other areas that can collect water such as ____________________________ Fast flowing, deep water is NOT a likely location for mosquito larva to grow –____________________________ will likely not have mosquito larva –Why?

12. Fighting Mosquitoes: Step 2 – Check for and Identify Larva Check standing water for larva by taking a “dip” Use a _________________ –Looks like a big soup ladle If larva is present, you will be able to see them ________________________ in the dipper Important to dip at many locations around one area of standing water (larva tends to _______________________) If there are _______________ larvae per dip, the use of pesticide is justified

13. Fighting Mosquitoes: Step 3 – Applying Pesticide Mosquito larvacide comes in a ________________________, attached to _______________ It is applied to standing water using a ________________________ In larger or more dangerous areas it is sprayed off the back of a vehicle known as an ________________ –Argo’s are great for covering _______________________ of shallow standing water –They are 8-wheel drive Virtually never can get stuck Can travel almost vertically –They can also ________________________