Burr Ridge Takes to the Air to Combat Mosquitoes

Burr Ridge conducted its annual use of a chemical designed to prevent mosquito larvae from growing in local wetlands, and thus, prevent the onslaught of adult mosquitoes. The chemical, dropped from a helicopter, was distributed before 8 a.m. on Thursday. The work was delayed one day because of bad weather conditions.

“Helicopters are used when there are breeding areas identified that are difficult to reach in other ways or when there are large areas to be covered,” said Laura McGowan, public relations official for Clarke Mosquito Control, which administers the larvicide for Burr Ridge.

Clarke is in the third year of a three-year contract with the village, said Paul May, director of public works. After the contract ends, the village will go out for bids on a new contract.

The village drops Abate insecticide, in granular form, by helicopter into two wetland areas, Harvester Park and a wetland industrial area south of Interstate 55 near Grant Street, May said.

Abate, a brand name, is known as a larvicide.

“Larviciding … interrupt[s] the development of mosquito larvae before they have an opportunity to emerge as flying adults,” McGowan said.

“These larviciding operations help prevent nuisance mosquitoes as well as disease-carrying mosquitoes,” she explained. “All products used in mosquito control are approved for this use by the EPA and treatments are done by trained and licensed applicators.”

For the last six years, the Burr Ridge program has focused on larvae, rather than adults, which is more effective strategy in the battle against mosquitoes, May said.

Each year, the larvicide is applied at this time of year. However, if there were an outbreak, then the village could request an additional treatment of the chemical, he said.

The time of year when the larvicide is applied is chosen because of temperature and mosquito biology, meaning mosquito breeding and effectiveness, May added.

The amount of larvicide is measured in pounds, and the number of pounds dispersed depends upon the acreage of the areas in question, according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Harvester Park includes 37 acres, 17 of which are wetlands and riparian or prairie buffer.

“Larviciding is part of an integrated pest management program to control mosquitoes, which also includes surveillance, mapping of breeding locations and often adulticiding,” McGowan stated. 

Outside of the Burr Ridge wetland areas, a larvicide is applied by hand to areas with standing water, May said. By hand, the water is treated in more than 1,000 catch basins, which are located in places including the edges of roads, and inside storm or sewer grates that hold water. 

VectoLex, an insecticide, is used in these catch basins.

“It won’t disperse in a wetland,” May explained, noting one of the reasons the village uses a different product for the wetlands. This is why helicopters are used to apply a larvicide to this type of area.