Disease Monitoring

Mosquito control starts with surveillance.

In order to make precise and effective treatments, it is critical to understand the mosquito population in our district. We need to know what species are active, where they are active, and what is the level of activity. This information is gathered by our robust surveillance program consisting of 30 mosquito traps of three trap designs placed all throughout the district.

The mosquitoes collected are identified and counted and from that information we get a picture of the activity over the whole district. With over 40 species of mosquitoes in Illinois, often with differing habitat, behavior, and preference for blood meal, the information gathered in our traps is essential to guide our treatments. Organized mosquito control based in surveillance is crucial to how we operate in order to make informed decisions and complete our duties effectively and accurately to protect the community from potential disease risk and nuisance mosquitoes.

Control Efforts

Implementation and real-time data significantly reduce mosquito populations.

MaconMAD implements an Integrated Pest Management program that is environmentally friendly and supported by robust mosquito surveillance research. MMAD uses real-time data to target and reduce mosquito populations through the use of biological control agents and insecticides specifically designed to treat larval and adult stages.

Understanding the life stages of a mosquito is important to selecting which control measure is most appropriate. During larval stages mosquitoes are captive and confined to water sources. In this stage they pose no threat as a potential vector and treatments can be tailored to their habitat. Making treatments at this life stage and in these habitats is a proactive approach which prevents the emergence of biting adult females. MMAD tracks over 800 permanent standing water sources that are known breeding habitats on a weekly basis, conducting treatments as necessary.

In adult stages, targeted treatments are made using a truck mounted ultra-low volume sprayer or ULV. These treatments are generally made as a last resort when virus activity has been discovered within the population or populations are over-abundant, causing a nuisance or biting adults. Our robust surveillance system tracks both virus and population trends throughout our District on a weekly basis, allowing us to make well timed, targeted, coordinated treatments based on sound mosquito surveillance data.

What We Do

The District is committed to using science based Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to monitor vector populations and disease presence through surveillance, targeted product applications and source reduction through inspection and vector education for our residents through community outreach. These components create the foundation of the District’s comprehensive vector control program.

Surveillance

Surveillance

SURVEILLANCE

Surveillance is one of most important components to our operation. We use best practices to locate, collect, identify and test mosquitoes. Surveillance helps to monitor mosquito populations for abundance and disease presence. These efforts allow for us to make targeted treatment decisions in real time.
Source Reduction

Source Reduction

SOURCE REDUCTION

Source reduction is the elimination of breeding sites. Typically, these are manmade sources such as unkept swimming pools, ornamental ponds and other debris capable of holding water. This is one of the most effective methods of mosquito control.
Larval Control

Larval Control

LARVAL CONTROL

Larval control is the application of products that help reduce mosquito populations by either killing or preventing the growth of mosquito larvae while they are confined within standing water sources. Larval control applications are a logical next step when source reduction is not possible.
Adult Mosquito Control

Adult Mosquito Control

ADULT MOSQUITO CONTROL

Adult mosquito control is our last line of defense and is strictly regulated. We use this to immediately suppress the number of adult mosquitoes in an area only when several specific thresholds are met such as overabundance or a threat of disease transmission has been detected based on our surveillance data.

Report Standing Water or Dead Birds

Contact Us

HOURS
May-September
Mon–Thurs: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Fri: 9:00am – 3:00pm

October-April
Mon–Thurs: 8:00am – 4:00pm
Fri: 8:00am – 2:00pm

LOCATION
3755 Cundiff Rd
Decatur, IL 62526

PHONE
217-875-2722