Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM)
Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) is a comprehensive, long-term approach to reducing mosquitoes and the diseases they can spread in a coordinated, science-based manner. Instead of relying on a single method, IMM combines several proven strategies to control mosquitoes in a way that is effective, environmentally responsible, and sustainable.
The goal of IMM isn’t total mosquito eradication—it’s reducing mosquito populations and disease risk in a sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible way.
How Integrated Mosquito Management Works
IMM uses a combination of the following strategies:
Tracking mosquito populations, breeding sites, and disease activity to guide decisions.
Plotting relevant data—such as larvae densities, adult trap counts, floodplains, or treatment blocks—for spatial analysis.
Eliminating or managing standing water where mosquitoes breed—such as in containers, clogged drains, or unused pools.
- Treating water sources with environmentally targeted larvicides to stop mosquitoes in their early life stages before they become biting adults.
- Limited, targeted use of adulticides when necessary, such as during high mosquito activity or disease outbreaks.
- Using natural enemies or biological agents, such as larvivorous fish or bacteria that target mosquito larvae. Please note that Gambusia affinis (Mosquito Fish) are illegal in Washington state.
Evaluation of treatment efficacy, both larval and adult, through bioassays, caged mosquito tests, and bottle assays.
Testing for mosquito-borne diseases via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or Rapid Analyte Measurement Platform (RAMP), as well as monitoring for trends in sick or dying birds or equine.
General education and encouraging people to remove standing water, use repellents, and support control efforts.
Why Integrated Mosquito Management Matters
IMM helps protect public health by reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases while also minimizing impacts on people, pets, and the environment. It allows a district to respond effectively to mosquito problems while using the least amount of chemical control needed.
By combining prevention, monitoring, and targeted action, Integrated Mosquito Management provides a balanced and responsible approach to mosquito control.
Additional Resources
To learn more about Integrated Mosquito Management, please click on the following resources.
AMCA | Best Practices for Integrated Mosquito Management
EPA | Success in Mosquito Control: An Integrated Approach
CDC | Integrated Mosquito Management
