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Lower chemical level and use only after dark are new plan 9:26 pm, May 10, 2021 ×
Dead monarch butterflies were found across the Fargo area after aerial spraying in August 2020 to control mosquitoes. WDAY photo
MOORHEAD Moorhead is going to be using fewer chemicals this summer.
The City Council voted unanimously to pay a retainer fee for aerial spraying for mosquitoes but with a lesser amount of pesticide and only after dusk, and also agreed on a 5-3 vote to stop spraying weeds with herbicides in city parks and playgrounds for this year.
Despite agreeing to pay the $12,000 retainer fee for Airborne Vector Control of Halstad, Minn., to do aerial spraying, the city of Moorhead could still opt out of the pest control service this summer after a controversial spraying last August apparently was the cause of a massive kill-off of hundreds or thousands of endangered monarch butterflies.
KVRR Local News
Cass County Vector Control prepares for mosquito season
Employees head out We ll be looking for larvae, depending on if there is or isn t in that site we will be treating it to prevent them from growing up into adults.
April 26, 2021
Employees went out larviciding to help keep mosquito broods under control for the summer.
During the process, larvae kits are used to test out waterways throughout the metro to help pinpoint which areas may be in need of insecticide treatment.
“We’ll be looking for larvae, depending on if there is or isn’t in that site we will be treating it to prevent them from growing up into adults. Whereas at that point if they are adults we spray them with our trucks and our side by side and all that,” Cass County Vector Control Parks Crew Supervisor Bailee Kunnanz said.
Some believe the spraying caused the monarch massacre in Fargo-Moorhead last summer. 8:24 pm, Apr. 26, 2021 ×
Dead monarchs from the recent mosquito spraying are collected at a home in West Fargo.
David Samson / The Forum
MOORHEAD At least for now, Moorhead is opting out of any aerial spraying to control mosquitoes this coming summer.
The City Council voted 6-1 to sign a contract with Cass County Vector Control for other mosquito control measures but opt out of spraying. As part of the vote, the council members asked Public Works Director Steve Iverson to investigate the issues surrounding aerial spraying for mosquitoes.
At a future meeting, the City Council may vote to raise the threshold for spraying in the city or to cease spraying altogether.