Does Arlington’s spraying for West Nile-infected mosquitoes kill all of an area’s pollinators?

The insecticide that the city of Arlington applies in its targeted mosquito sprays does not kill most pollinators. Also, the spraying occurs at night, when most pollinators are inactive.

After finding a mosquito infected with West Nile virus, Arlington conducts targeted sprays of insecticides using an ultra-low volume permethrin spray that is friendlier to pollinators than other chemicals.

With national bee and butterfly populations in decline, environmentalists have criticized mosquito-targeting insecticides for their potential to harm at-risk populations.

Mosquito-killing insecticides can unintentionally harm pollinators, but only when applied in high concentrations and sprayed during the day when pollinators are most active. 

Research studies using caged honey bees and wild beehives found that ultra-low volume products applied at night have little to no effect on bee mortality.

Arlington residents can stay updated on targeted sprays and at-risk locations on the city’s website.