Pesticide Applications
The City of Cheyenne Weed and Pest applies insecticides and herbicides only when necessary, to protect the integrity and resilience of our urban ecosystem, and our community's health.
Mosquito season is upon us, and the Weed and Pest has started mosquito mitigation efforts around the city. We will regularly be treating for larval mosquitoes in their aquatic habitat from May through September. Technicians will be in hi-vis vests while applying a naturally occurring bacteria(BTI) from motorized backpack blowers. More formation about larval mosquito control is below.
ULV truck spraying applications for adult mosquitoes will typically be posted by 4:00pm the day that spraying will occur. Applications do not start until after sunset.
There are currently no planned ULV truck spraying operations.
Areas along the Greenway, city parks, outdoor recreation spaces, and open spaces will be treated as needed.
All operations are weather dependent and will be terminated if winds exceed 8-10MPH, temperatures fall below 60F, or in the event of rain.
No-spray areas are currently honored and registered apiaries are avoided.
ULV Truck Spraying Applications
When West Nile Virus rates or mosquito populations are elevated, Weed and Pest will treat problematic areas with truck mounted equipment after sunset.
This process is called ULV (ultra-low volume) spraying, where small amounts of insecticide (think 2oz) will be misted in tiny droplets over a large area (think a football field). Those droplets will float and hang in the air, waiting for a tiny mosquito to fly through them. We spray only when mosquitoes are active, and very few other insects are.
All applications are on a weather permitting basis. Winds in excess of 8-10mph or temperatures below 60F will halt operations. Crews will attempt to resume operations the following evening.
For more information, visit the Center of Disease Controls page on truck spraying for mosquitoes.
Spray trucks operate at slow speeds (8-12 MPH) and will have strobe lights running. To maintain the safety of employees and residents, trucks will not stop to answer questions. If you have questions or concerns about Weed and Pest ULV applications please contact us at 307-637-6475 or email us at weedandpest@cheyennecity.org
Larval Mosquito Treatments
Weed and Pest monitors over 700 sites around Cheyenne that have the potential to produce mosquitoes. We primarily use a bacteria product (Bacillus thuringiensis) that is naturally found in the soil, to disrupt the aquatic larval-stage of the mosquito life cycle. BTI does not harm fish or other aquatic life.
BTI will be applid the mosquito season, usually from April to October. You will see employees in high-visibility vests applying these products from motorized backpacks in stagnant ponds, ditches, creeks, and culverts around town.
Herbicide Applications
The Weed and Pest monitors invasive and noxious weeds, and will apply herbicide on city-owned property when necessary. The county and state maintains a list of noxious plants that threaten native vegetation.
To see products used to treat noxious and invasive weeds, navigate to our resources page.
To learn more about our integrated invasive weed management, navigate to our about page.
