The Monroe County Health Department responds to all mosquito complaints. When standing water that breeds mosquitoes cannot be eliminated it can be treated with larvicides to prevent the emergence of vector mosquitoes. Along with public education and source identification and reduction, larviciding represents the preferred method of mosquito management at MCHD. Following environmental inspections of breeding sites, larvicides are applied as needed based on larval presence as determined through dipping.

The MCHD works closely with Indiana State Department of Health staff on mosquito surveillance and trapping of adult mosquitoes in Monroe County. Adult mosquitoes are sent to the Indiana State Department of Health Lab to test for vector-borne diseases.

The following are some pictures of a breeding ground, an adult mosquito, and some different kinds of larvae:

To see Mosquito Larvae in action:
Mosquito Larvae Swimming (to watch this video, get the Apple Quicktime Player)  

Go to the Mosquito Activity Forecast to track the times of day when mosquitoes are most active in Bloomington, Indiana.   

More information about disease vector control:

Monroe County Health Department Vector Control Ordinance http://www.co.monroe.in.us/legal/countycode/362.pdf

Click on the link below to enter the Indiana State Department of Health Vector Control website. http://www.in.gov/isdh/20407.htm

The Purdue University program in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Diseases will give you additional information about Mosquitoes. http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publichealth/insects/mosquito.html  

Please contact Simeon at 349-2882 with any additional questions.