MASSACHUSETTS MOSQUITO CONTROL 

ANNUAL OPERATIONS REPORT 

2008 Year of Report Date of Report: 4-3-2009 

Project/District Name: Plymouth County Mosquito Control Project

Address: 142 R Pembroke St. 

City/Town: Kingston Zip: 02364 

Phone: 781-585-5450 Fax: 781-582-1276 

E-mail: atexeira@plymouthmosquito.com 

Report prepared by: Anthony Texeira 

If you have a mission statement, please include it here: 

ORGANIZATION SETUP: 

Please list your Commissioner's names: 

Carolyn Brennan - Chairman Leighton F. Peck, Jr. 

Kimberly King John Kenny 

 

Please list the Supt./Director's name: Anthony Texeira 

Please list the Supt./Director's contact phone number: 781-585-5450 

Please list your Asst. Supt./Asst. Director's name: Jo Ann Fawcett Project Coordinator 

Do you have a website? Yes 

If yes, please list the web address here: http://www.plymouthmosquito.com 

Please list your staffing levels for the year of this report: 

Full time: 11 

Part time: 1 

Seasonal: 8 

Other: (please describe) 

Please break these down into the following areas: 

Administrative staff: 2 

Field staff: 9 
Please check off all that apply, and list employee name(s) next to each category: 

 Public relations Dan Daly 

 Information technology 

 Entomologist Ellen Bidlack 

 Wetland Scientist 

 Biologist 

 Education Dan Daly 

 Laboratory 

 Operations Jo Ann Fawcett Steve Gillett 

 Facilities Anthony Texeira Steve Gillett 

 Other (please list) Pilot - Greg Goodband, Excavator operators - Greg Goodband 

Excavator operator - Brian Callahan, Area Foreman - Edward Medeiros, Ronald 

DeMoura, Richard Goodwin,Christopher Hanna and George Rego 

For the year of this report, we maintained: 

18 vehicles 

1 modified wetland equipment (list type) Link-Belt 

9 ULV sprayers (list type) Becomist 

14 Larval control equipment (list type) 2 Hydraulic unit,2 backpack sprayers, 10 pump 

cans 

Other (please be specific): 1 Airplane, 1 unmodified excavator, 1 trailer,1 small boat 

Comments: 

How many cities & towns in your service area? 28 

Please list: Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Cohasset, Duxbury, East 

Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, 

Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, 

Rochester, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, West Bridgewater, Whitman 

*Please attach a link to a map of your service area if possible. 

http://www.plymouthmosquito.com/map.htm 

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM): 

DEFINITION: a comprehensive strategy of pest control whose major objective is 

to achieve desired levels of pest control in an environmentally responsible 

manner by combining multiple pest control measures to reduce the need for 

reliance on chemical pesticides; more specifically, a combination of pest controls 

which addresses conditions that support pests and may include, but is not 

limited to, the use of monitoring techniques to determine immediate and ongoing 

need for pest control, increased sanitation, physical barrier methods, the use of 

natural pest enemies and a judicious use of lowest risk pesticides when 

necessary. 
Please check off all of the services that you currently provide to your member cities and 

towns as part of your IPM program; details of these services are in the next sections. 

 Larval mosquito control 

 Adult mosquito control 

 Source reduction 

 Ditch maintenance 

 Open Marsh Water Management 

 Adult mosquito surveillance 

 Education, Outreach & Public education 

 Research 

 Other (please list): 

Comments: 

LARVAL MOSQUITO CONTROL: 

Do you have a larval mosquito suppression program? Yes 

If yes, please describe the purpose of this program: The larval suppression program is 

one of our most effective methods to reduce the number of biting mosquitoes by 

preventing mosquitoes from maturing into adults, protecting human health and 

improving the quality of life of our residents. 

Please give the time frame for this program: April - September 

Describe the areas that this program is used: We target a variety of fresh water 

wetlands and salt marshes 

Do you use: 

Ground applied (includes hand, portable and/or backpack) 

Helicopter applications

Other (please list): airplane 

Comments: 

What products do you use in – (please use product name and EPA#) 

Wetlands: Vectobac 12AS 73049-38,Vectolex CG 73049-20,BTI Briquets 6218- 

47,Altosid XR 2724-421 

Catch basins: Altosid pellets wsp 2724-448, Altosid Pellets 

Containers: 

Other (please list): 

Please list the rates of application for the areas listed above: 
Wetlands: Vectobac 12AS 1 pint per acre by plane, 1 1/2 pint per acre helicopter 

Catch basins: Altosid Pellets 7 gramms per basin 

Containers: 

Other: 

What is your trigger for larviciding operations? (check all that apply) 

 Larval dip counts – please list trigger for application: 

 Historical records 

 Best professional judgment 

Comments: 

*Please attach a link to maps of treatment areas if possible. 

ADULT MOSQUITO CONTROL: 

Do you have an adult mosquito suppression program? Yes 

If yes, please describe the purpose of this program: The goal of our program is to 

reduce the number of biting mosquitoes to protect human health and improve the quality 

of life of our residents.

Please give the time frame for this program: May - October ( end date depends on virus 

activity

Describe the areas that this program is used: We accept request for adult mosquito 

control from project residents, businesses and town officials.

Do you use: 

Truck applications 

Portable applications 

 Aerial applications

Other (please list): 

Comments: 

Please list the names of the products used with EPA #: 

1). Anvil 1020 - 1688-88329 

2). FLIT 10 EC - 8329-67 

3). 

4). 

5). 
6). 

Please list your application rates for each product: 

1). fl. oz. Anvil 10 +10 ULV per acre = 0.62 

2). 7 oz. FLIT per gal. water 

3). 

4). 

5). 

6). 

Please describe the maximum amounts or frequency used in a particular time frame 

such as season and areas 

Each resident has a maximum of 10 treatments per season 

What is your trigger for adulticiding operations? (check all that apply) 

 Landing rates - please list trigger for application 

 Light trap data - please list trigger for application 

 Complaint calls - please list trigger for application 

 Arbovirus data 

 Best professional judgment 

Comments: 

*Please attach a link to maps of treatment areas if possible. 

SOURCE REDUCTION 

Do you perform source reduction methods such as tire/container removal? Yes 

If yes, please describe your program: Our source reduction program is comprised of our 

ditch maintenance program, OMWM and education. We often inspect properties and 

offer advice to landowners regarding actions they can take to reduce the amount of 

mosquito production on their property. 

What time frame during the year is this method employed? throughout the year

Comments: 

DITCH MAINTENANCE 

Do you have a ditch maintenance program? Yes 

Please check all that apply: 
 Inland/freshwater 

 Saltmarsh 

If yes, please describe: Inland Ditch Maintenance 

Please check off all that apply INLAND DITCH MAINTENANCE: 

Hand tools

Mechanized equipment

Other (please list): 

Comments: 

Please check off all that apply SALTMARSH DITCH MAINTENANCE: 

Hand cleaning

Mechanized cleaning

Other (please list): 

Comments: 

Please give an estimate of cumulative length of ditches maintained from the list above 

INLAND: 

Hand cleaning 40,580

Mechanized cleaning 4,485

Other (please list): 5525 

Comments: 

Please give an estimate of cumulative length of ditches maintained from the list above 

SALTMARSH: 

Hand cleaning 

Mechanized cleaning 4,485

Other (please list): 

What time frame during the year is this method employed? 

Comments: 

*Please attach a link to maps of ditch maintenance areas if possible.

OPEN MARSH WATER MANAGEMENT 
Do you have an OMWM program? Yes 

If yes, please describe: We have had an OMWM program on and off since the late 

1980's

Please give an estimate of total square feet or acreage: 

What time frame during the year is this method employed? 

Comments: We did not do any OMWM projects this year.

*Please attach a link to maps of OMWM areas if possible. 

ADULT MOSQUITO SURVEILLANCE 

Do you have an adult mosquito surveillance program? Choose one 

Please list the number (not location) of MDPH traps in your service area: 

Please check off all the types of surveillance that apply to your program: 

 Gravid traps 

 Resting boxes 

 CDC light traps Canopy 

 CDC light traps w/CO2 Canopy 

 ABC light traps Canopy 

 ABC light traps w/CO2 Canopy 

 NJ light traps Canopy 

 NJ light traps w/CO2 Canopy 

Other (please describe): UV light traps can be baited with CO2. 

Please describe the purpose of this program: To monitor the mosquitoes for disease, to 

determine general populations levels and to decide where we can better focus our 

larvaciding efforts.

Do you maintain long-term trap sites in any of your areas? Yes 

If yes, please describe how you chose these long-term sites. We maintain a system of 

NJ traps that have been at the same locations for numerous years. In cooperation with 

DPH we have in recent years begun to maintain our own sites for disease surveillence. 

Please check off the species of concern in your service area: 
 Ae. albopictus 

 Ae. cinereus 

 Ae. vexans 

 An. punctipennis 

 An. quadrimaculatus 

 Cq. perturbans 

 Cx. pipiens 

 Cx. restuans 

 Cx. salinarius 

 Cs. melanura 

 Cs. morsitans 

 Oc. abserratus 

 Oc. canadensis 

 Oc. cantator 

 Oc. excrucians 

 Oc. fitchii 

 Oc. j. japonicus 

 Oc. punctor 

 Oc. sollicitans 

 Oc. stimulans 

 Oc. taeniorhynchus 

 Oc. triseriatus 

 Oc. trivittatus 

 Ps. ferox 

 Ur. sapphirina 

 Other (please list): An. walkeri 

Do you participate in the MDPH Arboviral Surveillance program? Yes 

How many pools do you submit weekly on average? 23.5 

Please check off the arboviruses found in your area in the past 5 years: 

 West Nile Virus 

 Eastern Equine Encephalitis 

 Other Please list: Dog Heartworm is present but not monitored by DPH 

Did the above listed diseases cause human or horse illnesses? Yes 

Please explain: 2004 - 2 humans and 3 horses with EEEV, 2005 - 4 humans with EEEV, 

2006 - 2 humans and 2 horses with EEEV, 2007 - no disease in humans or horses, 

2008 - no disease in humans or horses. 

At what arbovirus risk level did the year begin in your area? (If more than one please 

list) 

WNV: low 

EEE: low 

At what arbovirus risk level did the year end in your area? (If more than one please list) 

WNV: high 

EEE: low - only exception Lakeville was moderate.

What time frame during the year is this method employed? 

Comments: 
*Please attach a link to maps of surveillance areas if possible. 

EDUCATION, OUTREACH & PUBLIC RELATIONS 

Do you have an education/public outreach program program? Yes 

If yes, please describe: On site presentation to schools and community organization. 

elementary school "Mosquito Awareness Week" poster contest, Press releases are sent 

out by the Community Liasion along with monthly personal contacts with town health 

officials. He provides school administrators and health agents updates and education on 

the Child Protection Act and school IPM plans. Educational information is available on 

the PCMCP website. Hand outs and brochures are supplied to the towns and to 

individual by requests. 

Please check off all that apply: 

 School based program 

 Website 

 PR brochures/handouts 

 Community events 

 Science fairs 

 Meeting presentations 

 Other (please describe): 

Please give an estimate of attendance/participants in this program: 1800

Please list some events you participated in for the year of this report: Kingston 

Elementary Health Fair, Council on Aging (Plymouth, Halifax, Pembroke) 

What time frame during the year is this method employed? Throughout the year 

Have you performed any research projects, efficacy, bottle assays, etc.? Yes 

If yes, please elaborate on your research projects: FLIT Barrier Spraying Effacacy 

Project 

Are you involved in any collaborations with academia, industry, environmental groups, 

etc.? Not at this time 

If yes, please elaborate on your collaborations this past year: 

Please provide a list of technical reports, white/grey papers, publication in journal or 

trade magazines, etc. 

Does your staff participate in educational opportunities? Yes 
If yes, please list the training and education your staff received this year: Clarke 

Pesticide training, Northeast Mosquito Control Association, NAAA annual convention. 

Please list the certifications and degrees held by your staff: Excavator operator ,Pilot - 

Greg Goodband, U.S. Commercial Airline Certficate, Commercial Certification 34 + 47 

CDL, Hoisting License- Excavator operator - Brian Callahan Commercial Certification 

47 CDL, Hoisting License, - Area Foreman - Edward Medeiros B.S., Applicators license 

CDL, Hoisting License, - Ronald DeMoura Commercial Certification 47 - Richard 

Goodwin Commercial Certification 47 - Christopher Hanna Commercial Certification 47 

- George Rego Applicators license, CDL - Ellen Bidlack B.S., M.A., Commercial 

applicators Certificate 47 - Anthony Texeira B.S., M.A.T. Commercial Certificate 47 - 

General Foreman Steve Gillett Commercial Certification 47, CDL, Hoisting License . 

Comments: 

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL EFFORTS 

Do you have a biological control program? No 

If yes, please describe: 

Is this program the introduction of mosquito predators or the enhancement of habitat for 

native predators? 

Please check off all that apply: 

 Predatory fish 

 Predatory invertebrates 

 Other (please describe): 

What time frame during the year is this method employed? 

Comments: 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 

Does your program use (check all that apply): 

 Computers 

 GIS mapping 

 GPS equipment 

 Computer databases 

 Aerial Photography 
 Other (please describe): 

Please describe your capabilities in these areas: Our goal is to use computers and GIS 

technology to improve record keeping, efficiency and communication. As a result these 

tools have been used in a variety of ways to meet these goals. Almost 10 years our 

service requests have been put directly into a database. We are using this Service 

Request system in 2008. The new system decreases data entry errors and speeds 

handling of the requests. We have geocoded two years of service requests to help us 

identify areas where we can improve our larviciding. Other ways we have been using 

this technology includes installing PDAs and GPS units in all our trucks with ULV 

sprayers. This system tracks when and where the sprayer was used as well as other 

information. PCMCP's helicopter contractor uses similar technology as well. We also 

use GIS technology to map our trap sites and help determine trap placement breeding 

sites and sensitive habitats. We are developing a system using GIS and computer 

databases to improve tracking of our hand larviciding sites and ditch maintainace.

Please describe your current GIS abilities: Intermediate 

Give details if possible on your GIS abilities: We currently have: ArcGIS 9.1 installed on 

one computer, 3 hand held GPS units including 1 Trimble GeoXT. We have GPS unitis 

installed in 11 of our trucks. 

Please describe any changes/enhancements in this area from the previous year: Geo 

coding breeding sites and placing symbols on Area Foreman's town maps along with 

vernal pools and sensitive habitats as determined by Mass. Nartural Heritage program. 

Comments: 

REVENUES & EXPENDITURES 

Please give a concise statement of revenues & expenditures for the prior fiscal year 

ending June 30. 

For FY08, PCMCP had a budget assessment of $1,289,291 plus a rollover amount from 

FY07 of $140,268, a combined total of $1,429,559. Payroll expenditure was $722,000. 

Chargebacks from Group Insurance, Medicare, Work.Comp was in the vicinity 

of$196,000. Retirement portion was $101,916. Insecticides purchased was in the area 

of $166,000. Auto, liability, airplane insurance totaled approximately $62,000, the 

purchase of GPS units for state vehicles $25,000. SRB's chargeback was approx. 
$32,000. The balance was expended on rent for office, rent for aircraft (also 

maintenance on aircraft), utilities,office supplies, various shop supplies, repairs and 

maintenance on state vehicles, fuel for vehicles and airplane, lab equipment, mapping 

and aeril spray program. 

Comments: 

PESTICIDE USAGE 

Please total your pesticide usage with information from your Mass. Pesticide Use 

Report, WNV Larvicide Use records and contracted pesticide applications. Applications 

methods include; hand/backpack, aerial, ULV, mistblower, other (please explain) 

Product Name: ANVIL 

EPA Reg. #: 1021-1688-8329 

Application method: ULV 

Targeted life stage: Adult 

Total amount of concentrate applied: 470 Gals 

Comments: 

Product Name: FLIT 10 EC 

EPA Reg. #: 8329-67 

Application method: hand 

Targeted life stage: Adult 

Total amount of concentrate applied: 5 Gals 

Comments: 

Product Name: Altosid pellets wsp 

EPA Reg. #: ULV 

Application method: hand 

Targeted life stage: Larvae 

Total amount of concentrate applied: 844 lbs 

Comments: 

Product Name: Altosid XR brickets 

EPA Reg. #: 2724-421 

Application method: hand 

Targeted life stage: Larvae 

Total amount of concentrate applied: 18lbs 

Comments: 

Product Name: Vectobac 12 as 

EPA Reg. #: 73049-38 

Application method: Hydraulic sprayer/ pump-can 

Targeted life stage: Larvae 
Total amount of concentrate applied: 1gal 

Comments: 

Product Name: Summit b.t.i. briquets 

EPA Reg. #: 6218-47 

Application method: hand 

Targeted life stage: Larvae 

Total amount of concentrate applied: 55lbs 

Comments: 

Product Name: Vectobac 12 as 

EPA Reg. #: 6218-47 

Application method: aircraft 

Targeted life stage: Larvae 

Total amount of concentrate applied: 2,023 

Comments: 

Product Name: Vectolex cg 

EPA Reg. #: 73049-20 

Application method: hand 

Targeted life stage: Larvae 

Total amount of concentrate applied: 25 lbs 

Comments: 

Product Name: Vectobac cg 

EPA Reg. #: 73049-20 

Application method: aircraft 

Targeted life stage: Larvae 

Total amount of concentrate applied: 1,960 

Comments: 

LARGE AREA EXCLUSIONS 

Do you have large areas of pesticide exclusion, such as estimated or priority habitats? 

No 

If yes, please explain, and attach maps or a weblink if possible. 

SPECIAL PROJECTS 

Do you perform any inspectional services such as inspections at sewage treatment 

facilities or review sub division plans? No 

If yes, please elaborate 
Do you work with DPW departments or other local or state officials to address 

stormwater systems, clogged culverts or other areas that you have identified as manmade mosquito problem areas? Yes 

If yes, please elaborate: We continue to work with local DPW on water management 

programs 

Have you worked with these departments on long term solutions? Yes 

If yes, please elaborate: We have share information and resources in regards to 

culverts and ditching maintenance. 

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PROTECTION ACT 

Is your program impacted by the Children and Families Protection Act? Yes 

If yes, please explain: The Childrens' Protection Act was a main focus on the Project's 

outreach/education program. Due to the level of misunderstanding or misinterpreting 

the Act, continued education will be necessary. 

If you have data on compliance with this Act and your program, please list here: The 

Projects keeps official records of all pesticide applications to school grounds on a town 

and school basis. Included are signed documents by responsible school officials 

ensuring compliance provisions of the Act prior to any adulticiding. 

If you had difficulties with implementation of your program due to this law, please 

elaborate here: 

Comments: 

GENERAL COMMENTS 

Please list any comments not covered in this report: