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Larvicide Information
As a routine step in Rensselaer County’s West Nile Virus
prevention and control activities, beginning May, 2003, a 150 day residual mosquito
larvicide
treatment will be applied in the cities of Troy and Rensselaer; and there will
be ongoing treatment in the catch basins in the Villages of Hoosick Falls, Valley
Falls, Schaghticoke, Castleton and Nassau with the 30 day residual larvicide.
This activity will begin at that time and continue until all catch basins that
contain or will have standing water are treated.
Applications of mosquito larvicide will be made to municipal and county-owned
storm sewer catch basins and seasonally wet stagnant standing water areas by
municipal and county employees. One application of the larvicide Altosid in the
form of XR Extended Residual Briquets will be used initially to prevent the breeding
of mosquitoes in storm sewer catch basins and seasonally wet stagnant standing
water for 150.
The larvicide application is a preventive measure consistent with West Nile Virus
prevention and control recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and the New York State Department of Health. This public notification
of the use of larvicide is routine procedure required by New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation regulations. While this larvicide treatment is
an important component of West Nile Virus prevention and control activities in
Rensselaer County, all County residents are reminded of the very important role
they play in reducing mosquito-breeding sites in their own backyards. Residents
are urged to eliminate areas of standing water that can be commonly found in
clogged gutters, old tires, swimming pool covers, bird baths, etc.
Rensselaer County Department of Health will also treat with Bti unopened swimming
pools, stagnant drainage ditches and ponds without an inlet or outlet. Please
call 270-2674 for more information.
Larvicide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) can be reviewed at the Rensselaer
County Department of Health from 8:00am until 5:00pm Monday through Friday. Please
contact the Environmental Health Department, at (518) 270-2674 for additional
information regarding larvicide application.
The following larvicides will be used:
- Altosid XR Extended Residual Briquets:
An insect growth regulator containing (S)
Methoprene (EPA registration no. 2724-421),
with a toxicity category of “CAUTION.”
- B.t.i. Briquets 30 Day
Residual: A biological insect growth regulator. EPA reg # 6218-47, with a
toxicity category of “CAUTION.”
To assist us in our surveillance activities, Rensselaer County residents are
requested to report the findings of dead birds, especially crows, which are thought
to have died within the last 24 hours, to our Environmental Division at (518)
270-2674.
You can also report dead birds to the USDA Wildlife Services 24 hour toll-free
hotline at 1-866-537-BIRD (2473).
For questions regarding identification of mosquito breeding areas and the use
of larvicides, please call our Environmental Division at (518) 270-2674.
Inquiries concerning symptoms of pesticide poisoning for the pesticides of concern
should be made to the Poison Control Center Hudson Valley at 1-800-336-6997.
Information concerning the regulation of pesticides may be obtained from the
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Pesticide
Management, Pesticide Compliance Section, 1150 N. Westcott Road, Schenectady,
New York 12306, (518) 357-2045.
Additional information concerning pesticides
may be obtained from the EPA sponsored National Pesticide Information Center
at 1-800-858-7378.
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