Many variables affect a town's mosquito surveillance and control.  Features such as land area, number/size of mosquito breeding areas, number of catch basins (areas where rainwater collects from streets), and road mileage (for towns considering town-wide road adulticiding) are factored into price estimates from mosquito control contractors.  Typically, communities are urged to invest in both mosquito surveillance and control to provide the most effective prevention and control plan. 

Arboviral Illness Surveillance, Prevention and Response Plan

Developing Surveillance & Response Plans

Mosquito surveillance and control are fundamental components of any response plan aimed at preventing mosquito-borne diseases, such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV).  Mosquito surveillance includes targeted mosquito trapping, species identification, and testing of mosquitoes for EEE and WNV.  Mosquito control includes source reduction of habitats where mosquito breed (e.g., draining standing water) and chemical control through the appropriate use of larvicides and adulticides (chemicals aimed at killing mosquito larvae and adults).  Adulticiding may be performed as "spot spraying", targeting specific high-activity areas, or road spraying, where a more extensive area is covered.

Economic & Budget Considerations

In order to give communities a sense of the cost of local mosquito control, please find below a series of estimates for varying community sizes and levels of response based on prior year's experience.  It is important to remember that these are only estimates and each community's particular needs and situations will results in different price estimates. 

• Small rural towns that have fewer than 1,000 catch basins and do not have salt marshes may spend between $25,000-$35,000 for annual mosquito surveillance and control (larvicide and spot adulticide).  Control only may cost between $10,000 – $20,000.

• Large towns that have between 2,000 to 5,000 catch basins and salt marshes or extensive wetlands may spend between $55,000-$105,000 for annual mosquito surveillance and control (larvicide and spot adulticide).  Control only may cost between $40,000 – $90,000.  Town-wide road spraying will add approximately $25,000-$35,000 per year.

• Cities that have over 5,000 catch basins and freshwater swamps may spend between $84,000-$114,000 for annual mosquito surveillance and control (larvicide and spot adulticide).  Control only may cost between $70,000 – $100,000.  Town-wide road spraying will add approximately $20,000-$30,000 per treatment.

Application of Chemical Pesticides

New Hampshire State law requires people applying chemical pesticides, other than homeowners on their own property, hold licenses issued by the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food.  Communities wishing to investigate mosquito surveillance and/or control should contact a NH licensed contractor.  There are several contractors licensed in NH for pesticide application, including:

Dragon Mosquito Control, Inc.                 

PO Box 46                                           

Stratham, NH 03885                          

(603) 964-8400

Municipal Pest Management Services, Inc.

PO Box 316

York, Maine 03909

(603) 431-0008

Atlantic Pest Solutions
PO Box F
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
1-800-439-7716

Interested communities can contact the NH Department of Agriculture, Division of Pesticide Control at 603-271-3550 for a complete list of all licensed contractors in NH and to receive an application for pesticide application.