Drones to help manage mosquito population in southeastern New Brunswick
Innovative approach better for environment and taxpayers, says regional service commission
Drones will soon be used in southeastern New Brunswick to manage the mosquito population, to reduce nuisance biting and the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses.
The Southeast Regional Service Commission recently purchased two drones for its mosquito management program — a small surveying one with a camera to map sites for targeted treatment, and a larger agricultural one to spread a natural granular larvicide over hard-to-reach wetlands.
"It is a new practice that has been making a lot of headway," said communications officer Marc André Chiasson. "We are not the first in the world to do it, but we are the first in New Brunswick to do it. We just saw it had so much potential."
This combination of novel drone technology and proven, science-backed mosquito management practices is expected to be more environmentally friendly and save money, he said.
The drones will reduce the use of all-terrain vehicles, which leave "traces," said Chiasson. An ATV "picks up things and spreads them to places where we might not want them. Like invasive species or things like that. With the drone, there is no contact with the environment," he said in French.
The drones, which cost more than $20,000, should also require less maintenance than the ATVs. "With drones, it's mostly recharging the batteries," he said.
Plus, "one drone can do the work of four people" and provide more accurate application of the larvicide, resulting in further savings.
Could start within days
People in Moncton, Dieppe, Riverview and Fundy Albert — the communities that have signed up for the mosquito management program, Mosquito 360 — should see the drones in the coming weeks, said Chiasson.
"We have all approvals, we have all licences, we just need proof of insurance ... for Nav Canada. Once that's done, we're good to go.
"We were actually hoping to get started today because that paperwork has gone through, we're just waiting on final confirmation," he said Tuesday.
Target larvae with bacterium found in soil
The program does not aim to eliminate all mosquitoes, according to the commission's website. An effective mosquito management program "aims to manage mosquito numbers in such a way that promotes overall ecological stability and health, while mitigating the associated impacts of their biting behaviour," it says.
The program uses Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelenisis), a naturally occurring bacterium found in a variety of soils, which has been used in global mosquito management practices for more than 40 years and is considered the "gold standard," said Chiasson.
Bti has insecticidal properties with dipteran — "That's your biting flies," said Caleb Innes, program supervisor. "We specifically target mosquitoes."
It is safe for all other species, including people, pets and other animals, aquatic life, and other insects, including honeybees, said Chiasson.
The Bti is bound to a corn granule, which the large agricultural drone will then spread over the surface of stagnant water in public spaces, such as wetlands and marshes, where mosquitoes love to breed.
It will be ingested by larvae, preventing them from reaching the adult stage, and significantly reducing the mosquito population.
"We do 24- to 48-hour post-counts, just to ensure that it's working as intended," said Innes.
With files from Pascal Raiche-Nogue