Mosquito & Vector Control

Disease vectors are organisms that can spread pathogens from the environment to people.  Mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas are common examples of disease vectors.

The Joplin Health Department seeks to control vector populations through education, source reduction, and applying control measures to identified vector populations.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are the most commonly encountered disease vector in the City of Joplin.  Methods of control for mosquitoes include the following:
  • Source Reduction:  This is the most effective method of controlling mosquito populations.  It involves the removal of sources of standing water that can serve as a habitat for mosquito larva.  Some common sources of standing water include untreated swimming pools, clogged gutters, bird baths, accumulated trash, and tires exposed to rainfall.
  • Source Treatment: The Joplin Health Department utilizes mosquito larvicides to treat standing water in right-of-ways to inhibit mosquito proliferation.  The larvicides contain bacterial spores that produce toxins that specifically target and only affect the larvae of the mosquito, blackfly and fungus gnat.  More information about larvicides can be found at this link.
  • Adulticide Treatment: The Joplin Health Department utilizes ultra-low volume fogging to treat neighborhoods for adult mosquito populations.  The chemical utilized is permethrin.  Areas that are scheduled to be fogged will be posted a week in advance.  Fogging typically takes place in the early morning, between 4:00 AM & 7:30 AM as weather conditions allow during peak mosquito seasons.
The following highlighted locations are scheduled for mosquito adulticide treatment (fogging) this week, weather permitting. Locations are subject to change throughout the week as requests are submitted.