Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are actually a type of fly. They have two wings, a piercing proboscis, long antennae, and scales on many parts of their bodies. As they develop, mosquitoes go through 4 life stages: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. The adult is the familiar flying form, while the larvae and pupae are both aquatic. Eggs may be either laid on the surface of water, or on damp surfaces, including soil, depending on the type of mosquito. In Montana, mosquitoes can be divided into two groups: flood pool species, and container species. While the flood pools species are relatively restricted to flood pools, the container species will exploit nearly any type of standing water, including flood pools.
| Characteristics | Flood Pool | Standing Water |
| Genera | Aedes, Ochlerotatus, Psorophora | Anopheles, Culiseta, Culex |
| Overwintering Stage | Egg | Adult |
| Oviposition Site | Soil Surface | Water |
| # of eggs deposited together | Single eggs | Several to many in a raft |
| Egg resistance to desiccation | High | Very low |
| # of generations/year | One or Two | Many |
| # of species in Montana | Many | Few |
| General flight range | Up to 20 miles, generally 2-17 miles | Up to 10 miles, often less than 200 feet |
Most Montana mosquitoes do not transmit any known diseases. However, the sheer numbers produced in certain areas creates a very real pest problem, and can result in economic losses, not only due to lost recreational opportunities, but also due to impacts on livestock and wildlife. Several species of Montana mosquitoes do transmit diseases. These species are widespread, but occur in larger numbers in specific regions of the state.
Mosquito Abatement in Montana
There are a number of Mosquito Abatement Districts (MADs) in Montana, and several towns have their own mosquito abatement equipment. In addition, various private entities perform mosquito abatement services. Forming a MAD is covered under the MCA 7-22-24. Most MADs in Montana use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods to deal with mosquitoes, which includes education, communication, planning, monitoring, and taking various actions, which may include pesticide application, to control the pest of vector populations. The primary responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture, with regard to mosquito control, involve certification of the mosquito abatement personnel.
The Department of Agriculture works with MADs in sampling to determine mosquito populations, to ensure that their personnel are trained in the proper use of the chemicals they work with, and that the machines used for adulticide application are properly calibrated. The Department works closely with the Department of Public Health and Human Services in distributing educational materials in the face of mosquito borne illnesses.
Informational Links
DPHHS West Nile Virus Page
"CDC" West Nile Virus Page
Rutgers Entomology Page
USGS Veterinary Map
USGS Human Map
USGS Mosquito Map
MSU Department of Entomology
