Saginaw County Launches Aerial Mosquito Abatement Program

Planes to spray BTI bacteria to target mosquito larvae before peak season

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:36am

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray photograph revealing the internal structure of a mosquito larva, its delicate form glowing against a dark background, conceptually illustrating the targeted approach to mosquito control.An aerial mosquito control program aims to eliminate mosquito larvae before they can hatch and spread disease.Saginaw Today

Saginaw County's Mosquito Abatement Commission is taking to the skies to combat the region's mosquito population before peak season, using planes to spray a naturally-occurring bacteria that targets mosquito larvae in flooded areas across the county.

Why it matters

Mosquitoes can transmit diseases like West Nile virus, and their populations tend to surge after heavy spring rains create ideal breeding conditions. Saginaw's proactive aerial spraying aims to get ahead of the mosquito population boom before it impacts public health and quality of life.

The details

The Saginaw County Mosquito Abatement Commission plans to treat around 50,000 acres with BTI, a bacteria that specifically targets mosquito larvae, before the insects have a chance to hatch and take flight. Crews are closely monitoring conditions, as recent heavy rains have created an abundance of standing water that serves as prime mosquito habitat.

  • Planes could be up as soon as Thursday, April 9, but the start date is dependent on weather conditions.
  • The commission plans to treat the county's peripheral areas first, as that's where most of the standing water is located.

The players

Saginaw County Mosquito Abatement Commission (SCMAC)

The agency responsible for mosquito control efforts in Saginaw County, Michigan.

Bill Stanuszek

Director of the Saginaw County Mosquito Abatement Commission.

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What they’re saying

“As wet as it is, when we start flying, we're likely going to start out on our peripheral areas. Because this is where most of our water is. We want this water to go down a bit.”

— Bill Stanuszek, Director, Saginaw County Mosquito Abatement Commission

“We have a lot of water out there and a lot of mosquito habitats. So, what that does is that just hatches more mosquitoes out.”

— Bill Stanuszek, Director, Saginaw County Mosquito Abatement Commission

“We want these lakes and big yards full of water to go down into their normal wet areas people see in the spring. So, with that the mosquito larvae will consolidate.”

— Bill Stanuszek, Director, Saginaw County Mosquito Abatement Commission

“This soil bacteria only effects mosquito larvae that are in the water. So, if your frogs, crayfish, pets, people and you happen to get it on you; it's going to have no ill-effect.”

— Bill Stanuszek, Director, Saginaw County Mosquito Abatement Commission

“In the boat from the snow that melted in the winter or the bucket that's out there. Or you're getting rain barrels set up, get rid of that water.”

— Bill Stanuszek, Director, Saginaw County Mosquito Abatement Commission

What’s next

The Saginaw County Mosquito Abatement Commission will continue monitoring weather conditions and adjust their aerial spraying schedule accordingly to target mosquito larvae before they hatch.

The takeaway

Saginaw County's proactive mosquito control efforts, including aerial spraying of a targeted larvicide, demonstrate the importance of getting ahead of mosquito populations to protect public health and quality of life before peak season arrives.