Mosquito spray

[blazing star]

It's that time of the year again. Last year, after they sprayed, I lost my cats to the toxin. They were using a new pesticide. I called them and they are now using the pesticide with which I had no previous problems. I think it's called Anvil. I'm very lucky to have a responsive mosquito abatement agency.

That being said, they sprayed last night. He told me that in ultra violet light, the pesticide breaks down very rapidly. I'm wondering if the leaves will be safe today or if I have a problem on my hands. What do you guys do and what's been your experience with this? I'm thinking of going to the prairie near me to gather fresh leaves today. Is this necessary?

Paul, please don't come in here contaminating this thread by telling me that the pesticide is safe and that my monarchs will be more abundant because of it.

[Mona Miller]

http://www.cmmcp.org/anvil.htm
Anvil® 10+10 (sumithrin)

"The product name of the mosquito adulticide used by the Project in ULV (Ultra Low Volume) sprayers is called Anvil®. It is a combination of two ingredients, sumithrin (10%) and piperonyl butoxide (10%). Sumithrin is a synthetic pyrethroid, and piperonyl butoxide is a synergist (a chemical that enhances the ability of another), allowing sumithrin to control the adult mosquitoes at a lower concentration. It is sprayed from the truck at 1.9 ounces per minute, at a vehicle speed of 5-15 miles per hour. This presents a minimal risk to humans, pets and non-target species. The active ingredient in Anvil photo-degrades (breaks down in sunlight) in less than four hours."

I looked up Sumithrin (it being a pyrethroid, I can't believe it will dissipate in 4 hours).

http://www.pesticide.org/get-the-facts/ ... /sumithrin
Sumithrin

If the prairie hasn't been sprayed, I'd go there and get leaves. Take a baggie and collect several leaves. Wash them and put them into a ziplock bag with a papertowel wrapped around them. These are good for several days. Just take out what you need to feed and dry them.

[blazing star]

I couldn't get to the prairie as I pulled over a 12 hour work day. I had no choice but to collect my leaves from outside in my yard. I rinsed them thoroughly with water and dried them and hoped for the best. So far, so good. I did wait over 24 hours to pick the new leaves. It seems the ultra violet light did decompose the pesticide as last year the cats all died when I collected new leaves too fast (the night they sprayed the poison).

I know this doesn't compare to what you're doing there but I have 9 new babies that just hatched! All season, I was collecting eggs but nary a one hatched. I'm going to see if I can locate more as this will probably be the last batch before Fall.

Thanks for all of your help, Mona.

[Mona Miller]

Each butterfly counts, no matter how many one raises. And, each experience is unique. I would rather enjoy a few than stress out over raising too many. I just gave away half of the caterpillars in my tent because I knew that I could not raise them all. The caterpillars will be used to do a presentation for a group of Master Gardeners.

[blazing star]

They called again yesterday to say they were coming out. I ended up putting an old sheet over some milkweed, supported by stakes. The pesticide guy told me that the pesticide droplets are probably larger than can get through the sheet fabric. I'll know tonight for sure.

[Mona Miller]

I just saw this article on pollinators declining.

http://www.presspubs.com/articles/2011/ ... 647477.txt
The important life of bees
(They are stressing less/no use of pesticide and planting more bee friendly flowers. Butterflies are pollinators, too.)

[blazing star]

Thanks for posting this. We're so short sighted with how we use pesticides that we're going to end up like China and have to hand pollinate our food crops with paint brushes (Made in China, of course).

Since our land restoration is underway and we have now have several different types of native plants blooming at one time, our butterflies have increase by 80%. Our experience has been that if there is not a lot of nectar coupled with their host plants, they simply don't hang. They nectar and pass through.