West Nile control treatments underway at Keele campus

mosquito

MosquitoBetween May 15 and October 30, York University will be conducting a larviciding program under the authority of the local medical officer of health to control larval mosquitoes and prevent their development into vectors of West Nile Virus.

The pellet formulation of the larvicide methoprene will be placed into all University catch basins. The granular formulation of the larvicide Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis will be applied to selected bodies of surface water, including ditches or ponds based on the presence of mosquito larvae.

Methoprene and Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis are both registered larvicides that are approved for use by the federal government. All larvicide will be applied by applicators, licensed by the Ministry of the Environment, or supervised technicians; and each larviciding application will be carried out under permit from the Ministry of the Environment.

For more information on details of the exact location and dates of treatment, contact Professional PCO Services at 416-520-7769.

Tim Haagsma, manager of Grounds, Fleet & Waste Management at ext. 20303, can provide more general information about the West Nile control treatments.