Published April 15, 2021
NORTH READING — The East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project will be conducting a helicopter application of the biological larvicide Bti to control mosquito larvae over large wetland areas located in town later this month.
Wetlands currently being evaluated for this application are located at or near Anderson Meadow; Batchelder Avenue.; Chestnut Street; Crestwood Road; Equestrian Drive; Essex Street; Ipswich River flood plain by Elm Street; Lakeside Blvd.; Linwood Avenue; Marblehead Street; Martins Brook; Oakdale Road; Redmond Avenue; Swan Pond Road; Takoma Circle; Tarbox Lane; Willow Street and Winter Street.
The application will take place sometime between Monday, April 19 and Friday, April 30. The Bti will be applied in a granular formulation by a helicopter flying low directly over the wetlands. Residents do not need to take any special precautions for this application.
The material to be applied, Bti, (Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis) is a natural bacterium found in soil. The EPA classifies Bti as a relatively non-toxic pesticide. Bti is considered a target-selective and environmentally compatible pesticide that affects mosquito larvae and a few closely related aquatic insects in the fly family.
Once applied, Bti stays suspended in water for 24 to 48 hours and then biodegrades as it settles to the bottom. The product name of the Bti is VectoBac GS (EPA Reg. #73049-10).
For further information, contact the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project at 781-899-5730.
