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Mosquito Abatement

Information on how the Urban Biology Division manages the mosquito control program.

Mosquito abatement is the reduction and control of mosquitoes by eliminating their breeding habitat or using chemical, biological, or environmental control methods.

What it is: Adulticiding is controlling mosquitoes in their adult stage. Adulticides are products that rapidly reduce adult mosquito populations. This can become necessary when larval control measures are insufficient or not feasible. Adulticiding may be initiated when there is evidence of significant populations of mosquitoes in a region or if there is evidence of mosquito-borne disease in Bernalillo County. The most common method of adulticiding is ultra-low volume (ULV) spraying. ULV spraying is the process of putting very small amounts of liquid into the air as a fine mist of droplets. These droplets float on the air currents and quickly eliminate mosquitoes that come into contact with them. ULV adulticides are applied when mosquitoes are most active, typically late evening or pre-dawn. The ULV spray machines are mounted in the bed of trucks.
Pollinator Protection: You can be added to the no spray list by calling 311. See the “services we provide” section for more information about our no spray list.

Larviciding is controlling mosquitoes in their larval stage. Control of larval mosquitoes is the backbone of the Urban Biology Division mosquito control program. Larvicides are products used to reduce immature mosquito populations. They can be either biological or chemical products. Larvicides are applied directly to water sources that hold mosquito eggs and larvae. When used well, larvicides can help to reduce the overall mosquito population by limiting the number of adult mosquitoes that are produced. See the “what you can do” page for more information about how you can find and eliminate mosquito breeding habitat in your yard.

Larval control is the best way to prevent mosquitoes from developing into adults and is the primary method of mosquito control that the City of Albuquerque employs.

Call 311 to report these kinds of mosquito breeding habitat. See the “what you can do” page for more information about how you can find and eliminate mosquito breeding habitat in your yard.

Source reduction is the reduction or permanent removal of mosquito breeding sites. In a neighborhood setting, source reduction includes removal of mosquito breeding habitat such as used tires, trash, and discarded buckets or other containers. Properly maintaining swimming pools and cleaning out bird baths and pet dishes once a week are also ways to reduce mosquito breeding habitat.
Biological control uses natural predators or parasites to control mosquito populations. The most common form of biological control for mosquitoes are mosquitofish (scientific name: Gambusia affinis). You can request free mosquitofish from the City of Albuquerque by calling 311. See the “services we provide” section for more information. 

Bacterial Larval Control:

  • Bti (Bacillus thuringeiensis israelensis)
    • Four Star briquettes
  • Bsph (Bacillus sphaericus)
    • Four Star (CRG)
  • Spinosid
    • Natrular

Adult Control:

  • Biomist 30-30
  • Mosquitomaster 412