This week the BLSG started roadside spraying of pesticides to kill adult mosquitoes. Pesticide application is now being done under Vermont’s 2017 Pesticide General Permit after the Department of Environmental Conservation approved, on May 15, the BLSG request to continue operation.
We will be announcing, whenever possible, the dates and location of roadside spraying of adulticides in the district. The best way to get advance notice is to follow us on Twitter or Facebook (see the right sidebar). We might also be able to send alerts by text or email, so let us know if you would be interested in that.
The pesticide being sprayed tonight is Permanone which is a formulation containing about 4% permethrin. Here is the active ingredient list from the label posted by BLSG:
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
Permethrin………………………………………….. 3.98%
Piperonyl Butoxide* ……………………………. 8.48%
OTHER INGREDIENTS†…………………….. 87.54%
TOTAL: 100.00%
* (butylcarbityl)(6-propylpiperonyl) ether and related compounds.
†Contains petroleum distillate
Piperonyl butoxide is a synergist which works by inhibiting the natural defense mechanisms of the insect. It is not a pesticide, but makes the permethrin more deadly.
Here is what the label says about the environmental hazards of Permanone:
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS This pesticide is extremely toxic to aquatic organisms, including fish and invertebrates. Runoff from treated areas or deposition of spray droplets into a body of water may be hazardous to fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Before making the first application in a season, it is advisable to consult with the state or tribal agency with primary responsibility for pesticide regulation to determine if other regulatory requirements exist.
Do not apply over bodies of water (lakes, rivers, permanent streams, natural ponds, commercial fish ponds, swamps, marshes, or estuaries), except when necessary to target areas where adult mosquitoes are present, and weather conditions will facilitate movement of applied material away from the water in order to minimize incidental deposition into the water body. Do not contaminate bodies of water when disposing of equipment rinsate or washwaters.
This pesticide is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment on blooming crops or weeds. Do not apply this product or allow drift when bees are actively visiting the treatment area, except when applications are made to prevent or control a threat to public and/or animal health determined by a state, tribal, or local health or vector control agency on the basis of documented evidence of disease causing agents in vector mosquitoes, or the occurrence of mosquito-borne disease in animal or human populations, or if specifically approved by the state or tribe during a natural disaster recovery effort. Applications should be timed to provide the maximum possible interval between treatment and the next period of bee activity.
The entire label for Permanone is at the BLSG site.
We hope the guys preparing and driving the spray trucks stay safe.