Mosquito Control

This program provides comprehensive surveillance and control strategies designed to identify the presence of mosquito borne diseases and to reduce the risk of human transmission. Surveillance is accomplished through collection and testing of adult mosquitoes. Larval mosquito control is accomplished through the treatment of over 20,000 storm drain structures and over 1,000 breeding sites. The program enforces Rockland County Sanitary Code, Article XIX, while working in cooperation with other enforcement programs within the Department of Health. We have been proudly serving Rockland County in this fashion since the West Nile virus outbreak of 1999.

Free Mosquito Control Product Giveaways

Contact: (845) 364-3173

Mosquito Dunks® can be picked up by appointment only at the Center for Environmental Health office - 50 Sanatorium Road, Building D, Pomona - for the treatment of closed or unused private swimming pools. They are available from April 1st through October 31st during normal business hours, while supplies last. Please see below for details.

• Guidance for the proper use of Mosquito Dunks
• Blank Posting of any biological or chemical treatment made in an attempt to prevent mosquito breeding requires proper posting.
• Mosquito Dunk Label for public display when treating your property.

Larval Control focuses on reducing Rockland's mosquito population at the larval stage. Larval control is performed during the spring and summer months through the identification and monitoring of over 1,000 mosquito breeding sites and treatment of approximately 20,000 roadside catch basins throughout the County. In an attempt to minimize pesticide use, biological mosquito control is employed in the form of free giveaways to the public. Mosquito Dunks are available to assist private homeowners with unused or poorly maintained swimming pools. The Health Department holds a one-day giveaway of Fathead Minnows (mosquito-eating fish). This event provides a fun way for residents to perform their own mosquito control in the waters of Rockland County.

Larval control treatments may occur throughout all of Rockland County from April 1-October 31. Treatment areas include, but are not limited to, wetlands, woodland pools, retention basins, unmaintained swimming pools and other water holding receptacles that may be breeding mosquitoes. A copy of the pesticide label will be provided if requested by individuals in the treatment area.

Treatment Products Routinely Used by RCDOH Mosquito Control Staff:

• Aquabac 200G
• VectoBac G (Granules)
• VectoMax FG (Fine Granule)
• Altosid XR (150 Day)
• Mosquito Dunks
• Summit Bti (Dunks)
• FourStar Briquets (180 day)
• FourStar Bti Briquets (45 day)
• FourStar Controlled Release Granule (CRG)
• FourStar Bti Controlled Release Granule (Bti CRG)

If you have any questions, contact the RCDOH Mosquito Control Program at 845-364-3173 or the NYSDEC Region 3 Office at 845-256-3097.

Inspections/Enforcement

Program staff conduct routine and complaint-based inspections at many commercial properties that are considered "high risk" for mosquito breeding potential. Staff also investigate complaints against private residential properties. A letter is sent to the owner/occupant of the property to inform them of the alleged mosquito breeding and educate on the importance of eliminating breeding sources and how to accomplish it. When conducting an inspection, field staff are authorized to access a private property to look for potential mosquito breeding habitats and/or evidence of mosquito breeding. If mosquito breeding is found, a larval sample is collected for identification. When education/guidance fails and/or violation(s) are not corrected in a timely manner, RCDOH staff may treat the property to eliminate the mosquito breeding hazard and/or take legal action, which could lead to an Administrative Hearing and/or financial penalties.

Concerned about a property or area of standing water breeding mosquitoes? Let us know!

Submit a Complaint

Mosquito Surveillance

Mosquito Surveillance focuses on the collection, identification and tracking of mosquito species, both in their adult and larval stages. Mosquito trap sites are located throughout the County and are monitored from June through September. Adult mosquitoes are collected and grouped by location and species. Specimens are submitted on a weekly basis to NYSDOH labs to be tested for mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). WNV testing results can be viewed here. Larval mosquito specimens are sampled from open breeding sites by field staff and are identified to species. Nearly 2,000 samples are identified each season. Enhanced surveillance has now been employed since the 2016 season - using BG-Sentinel 2 traps - to more closely monitor the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Ae. albopictus) and it's movements through the region.

Storm Water Plan Reviews (Mosquito Breeding Suppression Plans)

The RCDOH requires that Mosquito Breeding Suppression Plans (MBSPs) be submitted to, and approved by, this office at least 30 days prior to construction of a new storm water facility. A storm water facility includes but is not limited to: Detention Basins, Retention Basins, Recharge Basins, Catch Basins, Dry Wells, Level Spreaders and Underground Chambers. The MBSP shall describe actions to be implemented to reduce mosquito breeding potential at all new storm water facilities. Effective actions may include but are not limited to design standards that prevent breeding, chemical or biological treatment or the installation of an aeration system. Additional information can be found linked on the side of this page and in Rockland County Sanitary Code, Article XIX. For additional information, please call 845-364-3173.

Downloadable Forms / Applications

Fee-Based Mosquito Control Services:

• General Site Area - (construction sites, open foundations)
• Permitted Swimming Pool
• Residential Swimming Pool
• Stormwater Basins

Mosquito Breeding Suppression Plan:

• Application for Stormwater Structures - already installed/built
• Application for Stormwater Structures - to be installed/built
• MBSP Application Instructions

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