The Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) will hold its 92nd Annual Conference January 21-24, 2024 at the Monterey Convention Center and Portola Hotel in Monterey, CA. The theme for this year’s conference is “Vector Control in the Modern World,” and focuses on the various challenges of carrying out comprehensive vector control campaigns in a complex, regulatory, social and technological environment.

With this in mind, we hope you will consider submitting a paper that will be considered for presentation at the conference. Presentations should be related to mosquitoes or other vectors, the disease organisms they transmit, or their surveillance and control. Presentations may be about research results, the development and testing of new methods, equipment or products, education, community outreach and the adaptation or development of new technology relating to vector research, surveillance or control, or the administration of a vector control agency. In line with this year’s theme, we would also like to highlight presentations related to adaptive approaches to modern vector control including: non-traditional fields of study; partnerships with landowners, agencies, and community groups; novel techniques and equipment; and advancements in resource management. Some preliminary ideas for symposia are listed on the attached form, but if you have any suggestions for topics, please reach out.

To submit your paper, please click here. They are due no later than October 2, 2023 to be considered.

MVCAC Summer Meeting, July 25^th via zoom from 9 AM to noon. 

Click here for zoom info (must be logged in to view)

MVCAC Fall Meeting, October 2-4 at the Hilton Palm Springs.

Booking information and schedule to come.

MVCAC Planning Meeting, December 5-7 in Sacramento.

More info to come.

MVCAC Legislative Days and Spring Meeting, February 21-23, 2024.

More info to come.

The PR and drone committees have created an animated whiteboard video to explain how drones are used to control mosquitoes. This is intended to be a high-level explainer video that MVCDs can share with policymakers, stakeholders, residents, and reporters to educate them about how drones are important part of an integrated vector management program. The video is on the innovative technologies page on the MVCAC website.

It's nomination time! Nominations are now open for MVCAC's Meritorious Service, Honorary Member, and the Service with Distinction Awards.  All nominations must be received in the MVCAC office by September 11th so they may be included on the ballot to all the member districts, or adequate ad hoc committees may be appointed (for Service with Distinction). 



For all award nominations, a list of the individuals qualifying accomplishments and achievements must also be received with the nomination letter. 

Please submit nominations via email to mvcac@mvcac.org or fax at 916-444-7462 attn: Award Nominations. Ballots for Honorary and Meritorious Service will be sent out after September 13th, with a due date before the Fall meeting in October. 

Please do not hesitate to contact the MVCAC office if you have any questions!

An updated version of Best Management Practices for Mosquito Control in California (PDF) is available from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). This resource is a manual for landowners and land managers, and provides specific, primarily non-chemical actions that can be implemented to reduce or eliminate mosquito production from different habitats. Additional information about mosquitoes and larval habitats in California is also provided. This manual and additional resources are available from CDPH at:

• California West Nile Virus website – Response Plans and Guidelines; Mosquito Control Information
• CDPH Mosquitoes and Mosquito-Borne Diseases webpage

The California Department of Public Health has a selection of social media messages and graphics for agencies and districts to share this summer about West Nile virus (WNV), mosquito-bite prevention, and dead bird reporting: WestNile.ca.gov Sample Social Media

Other helpful CDPH resources and links:

• CDPH Mosquitoes and Mosquito-Borne Diseases webpage
• CDPH Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Mosquitoes webpage
• Mosquito Control FAQs 
• What You Should Know About Mosquito Control & Pesticides
• West Nile Virus – What You Need to Know (brochure)

The MVCAC ad hoc Drone Committee is here to help you plan granular larvicide applications with your drone. Download the guide here to learn best practices for selecting a launch site, organizing the flight team, mission safety, regulations, and certifications.  

For vector control districts that wish to use pyriproxyfen in WOTUS, an updated Notice of Intent form and Pesticide Application Plan needs to be submitted to the State Water Board. Examples of completed documents can be found on the Water Board NPDES Vector Control Permit website. Due to web accessibility requirements, the State Water Board is no longer allowed to post 3^rd party documents unless they are ADA-compliant. Therefore, the Water Board requests applicants post documents on their webpage and provide a link which will then be used to post on the State Water Board website for 30-day public comment as required per the permit.

Email Gurgagn Chand, Gurgagn.Chand@waterboards.ca.gov, your website link for the document. After the application link is posted for 30-day public comment, Water Board staff will notify you of any items that need to be addressed within the amended application package as well as any public comments received. If everything checks out, generally an amended Notice of Applicability approving the revisions will be issued by the Deputy Director of Water Quality within 1-2 weeks. 

Email MVCAC Regulatory Affairs Committee Chair (Erika Castillo, erika@mosquitoes.org) if you have any additional questions.

The California legislature is discussing a bill, AB 740 [Gabriel] Drone cybersecurity, that would limit the use of drones by all government agencies in California that fail to meet certain cybersecurity standards or originate from countries identified by the Federal Government as a cybersecurity concern . DJI, who makes most of the drones that are used in the US, would be limited under this bill. As a result, no government in California agency would be allowed to fly DJI drones under this bill unless they qualify for a limited discretionary exemption.  

The current bill would bring this change into effect on January 1, 2026. MVCAC is seeking to motivate an extension to this deadline to 2028, but is not currently opposing the bill. Very recently, the bill was put on a two-year cycle, so there may be a further extension of the deadline, but this is not guaranteed. MVCAC will continue to engage on this issue as the bill progresses.

Please keep this in mind as you consider purchasing drones. Contact the Chair of the MVCAC ad hoc Drone Committee if you wish to discuss further (Eric Haas-Stapleton, Eric@mosquitoes.org).