​1. What can I do to avoid mosquitos?
Dump all water containers around the house (inside and outside the house), keep grass short, and avoid any clutter around the house. 

Always remember the 4 D's:
a. Drain water around the home.
b. Dress in long sleeves and long pants when outside
c. Avoid being outside during Dusk and Dawn 
d. Apply DEET or other FDA approved insect repellents when outdoors


2. What is Larviciding?​​ ​​
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​Larviciding is the process of controlling mosquitos when they are in the larval or pupal form. During Larviciding, we are destroying mosquito larvae in stagnant water.  Larviciding is an effective approach because the mosquito is somewhat isolated in their breeding site. Mosquito larvae left untreated develop into adult mosquitos, of which are not only a nuisance but can but a public health threat in worst case scenarios.​​​
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​3. What is Adulticiding?

Adulticiding is controlling mosquitos in their adult stage.  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 mosquitos that come into contact with them. ​Adulticides can be applied from hand-held sprayers, truck-mounted sprayers, helicopters or airplanes.
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​​4. What attracts mosquitos to me?

Carbon dioxide is the most universally recognized mosquito attractant and draws mosquitoes from up to 35 meters. When female mosquitos sense carbon dioxide they usually adopt a zigzagging flight path within the locate its source. Some individuals release more carbon dioxide that others which is why some individuals may find themselves to be constantly bitten by mosquitos.

​​​5. When are mosquitos more active? ​​​
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​Mosquitos are more active between dusk and dawn.​​
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​​​6. Why does the Vector Control Division only spray at night and not during the day?​​
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​The Vector Control adulticides mosquitos at night because this is the time when mosquitos are more active.​​​
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​7. Is the chemical used during Adulticiding harmful to myself or my pets?
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​​​​The chemical that we utilize during Adulticiding contain active ingredients and formulations specialized for public health mosquito control. However, we do continue to advise the public to seek shelter once they see and hear the City Vector Control Trucks.
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​8.​​​ How far does the chemical utilized during Adulticiding reach?
​​Our vehicles are equipped with smart flow ULV technology, 6 ounces of chemical is released per minute.  The chemical used can cover up to 3 city blocks.
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​9. What speed do the trucks have to maintain during Adulticiding?
​Our ULV sprayer machines have integrated technology with a vehicle that is only able to spray within the speed of 5-15mph. The machine will not function under 5mph or over 15mph.
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​10. How many ULV sprayer machine equipped trucks does the City of Brownsville have?
​The City of Brownsville currently has 8 ULV sprayer machine equipped trucks. We utilize these trucks when we conduct city wide spraying within the 33 sections of Brownsville.
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​11.  Does Vector Control keep track of what areas are treated with adulticides (sprayed)?
​Each of our 8 units are equipped with GPS technology and is capable of recording all locations that were treated while using the ULV machine.