Winterization Strategies from Mosquito Control Experts

Equipment and Facility Readiness: A Deep Clean and Maintenance Overhaul

The cornerstone of winter prep is the thorough maintenance of machinery and supplies. Preventing damage from freezing and ensuring equipment longevity are top priorities.

• Protecting Sprayers from Freezing: All three districts emphasize care for their spraying equipment. Bergen County empties and cleans all their machines, running antifreeze through the lines to prevent freezing, and storing batteries on a trickle charge. BCMCP in Massachusetts takes a different approach due to their use of gas-powered Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) machines: they wash the units, disconnect the batteries, change the oil and fuel filter, and add stabilizer to the fuel.

• The Power of Removal: BCMCP employs a strategy that they feel benefits equipment life: they remove ULV equipment and spill response containers from the vehicles for the winter. This prevents exposure to harsh winter conditions and allows a more thorough visual inspection for leaks or damage than if they remained mounted.

• Continuous Maintenance: The Hunterdon District highlights the importance of regularly starting spraying equipment (monthly) throughout the winter to identify functional issues and ensure the machines don't sit unused for too long. Bergen County also notes that while they perform pre-season calibrations in the spring, equipment maintenance is continuous throughout the year due to frequent use.

• Inventory and Organization: All districts take stock of their supplies. BCMCP conducts an inventory of pesticides and organizes them to ensure the oldest product is used first next season—a great practice for product management. The Hunterdon District makes crucial supply purchases before the budget cycle shuts down in early fall.

Winter Surveillance: Getting a Head Start on Next Year's Risk

Winter isn't just about maintenance; it's also a time for crucial, specialized surveillance that helps define following season's strategy.

• Targeting Key Species: Bergen County occasionally conducts larval surveys for species like Culiseta melanura and Coquillettidia perturbans, and checks on overwintering adults (Culex pipiens, Anopheles punctipennis) in hibernaculae (overwintering sites).

• Assessing Arbovirus Risk: BCMCP's winter surveillance is highly focused on Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEv) vectors.
  • They target Culiseta melanura, the primary enzootic vector, which overwinters in cryptic habitats under Atlantic white-cedar and red maple trees.
  • They also sample for Coquillettidia perturbans, an epizootic vector, by using bilge pumps to collect overwintering larvae attached to the roots of aquatic plants. This sampling provides a valuable estimation of the next year’s population, helping them prepare their spring response.

Staff Training and Operational Planning

The winter months are essential for staff development and data analysis, which are key to continuous improvement.

• Continuous Learning: All districts prioritize staff training. Bergen County inspectors keep up to date on general safety, chainsaw, and pesticide recertification training, and their surveillance staff attends mosquito identification workshops. BCMCP conducts "Right To Know" training, reviews pesticide labels and application methods, and runs spill response and calibration training.
• Data-Driven Decisions: The Hunterdon District emphasizes the importance of analyzing the past year's efforts. They compile year-end data into charts and graphs for critical analysis, which is reported to county and state agencies. They also analyze state trends to prepare for potential operational changes. BCMCP reviews maps of previous applications, residential exclusions, and trapping locations in preparation for the upcoming season.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Winterization isn't without its obstacles, but districts have developed effective ways to manage them.

• Weather Interference: In New Jersey, Bergen County staff are often responsible for salting and snow removal, which can compete with winterization tasks. In Massachusetts, BCMCP notes that frozen ground or heavy snow cover can impede fieldwork, such as water management. Their solution is to pivot to indoor activities, including training, maintenance, or constructing resting boxes, when outdoor work isn't feasible.

• Preventing Freezing Damage: Even with procedures in place, components can freeze or crack. Bergen County addresses this by storing some sensitive equipment in a heated section of their garage as a proactive measure against unexpected temperature drops.

• The Spring Payoff: The ultimate lesson is that thorough winter prep, from maintenance to planning, results in minimal effort and maximum readiness in the spring. As BCMCP notes, by repairing and maintaining all ULV equipment in the winter, they avoid waiting for parts, ensuring a swift and smooth start to operations with just a quick check and calibration needed when activity picks up. Hunterdon District uses the off-season to complete trail maintenance and tire collection, making crucial mosquito habitats easily accessible in the spring.

The silence of winter is anything but quiet for these mosquito abatement teams. Their diligence now is what protects public health when the weather warms up and the mosquitoes return!