West Nile treatments will start June 1 at the Keele Campus

A mosquito bites a human arm

Between June 1 and Oct. 31, 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 who are licensed by the Ministry of the Environment or supervised technicians. Each larviciding application will be carried out under permit from the Ministry of the Environment.

For more information on 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.