Merus 3.0 - 0.83 oz/acre
- arthuroslund2
- Sep 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 1
The Collier Mosquito Control District (CMCD) carries on extensive spraying of Merus 3.0in Collier County residential areas.
Ave Maria | 4/16/2025 |
Ave Maria | 4/30/2025 |
Ave Maria | 5/6/2025 |
North Collier County west of Livingston Rd and north of Immokalee road to the county line | 6/7/2025 |
Immokalee road to the county line | 6/7/2025 |
Marco Island | 6/12/2025 |
Bayshore | 6/14/2025 |
Areas along US 41, Bayshore Dr and Airport road south of the Naples Airport and Eagle Creek and 5th Avenue South | 6/19/2025 |
Marco Island | 6/20/2025 |
North Collier County, including the Naples Park, Gulf Harbor, Vanderbilt Drive and Barefoot Beach areas | 6/24/2025 |
Marco Island | 7/1/2025 |
Naples Park, Gulf Harbor, Vanderbilt Drive and Barefoot | 7/9/2025 |
Naples Park, Gulf Harbor, Vanderbilt Drive and Barefoot areas | 7/14/2025 |
Everglades City, Plantation Island, Copeland, Chokoloskee and Port of the Islands areas. | 7/21/2025 |
Eagle Lakes and Estes Avenue | 7/23/2025 |
Naples Park, Gulf Harbor, Vanderbilt Drive and Barefoot areas. | 7/24/2025 |
South Naples in the communities along US 41 between Collier Boulevard and Tomato Roa | 7/29/2025 |
Port of the Islands, Everglades City, Plantation Island, Copeland and Chokoloskee areas. | 7/30/2025 |
communities east of Collier Boulevard between Verona Walk and Jenkins Way. | 8/6/2025 |
Port of the Islands, Everglades City, Copeland, Plantation Island and Chokoloskee areas | 8/6/2025 |
Everglades City, Plantation Island, Copeland and Chokoloskee areas tonight after 7:30 PM. | 8/11/2025 |
Port of the Islands, Everglades City, Plantation Island, Copeland and Chokoloskee areas. | 8/14/2025 |
Vanderbilt Drive from Naples Park to the county line. | 8/15/2025 |
north Collier County along Vanderbilt Drive from Naples Park to the county line | 8/21/2025 |
Port of the Islands. | 8/23/2025 |
in east Collier County near the intersection of Oil Well Road and State Road 29. | 8/27/2025 |
Golden Gate Estates | 8/28/2025 |
Port of the Islands | 8/29/2025 |
Port of the Islands | 9/3/2025 |
State Road 29 and Oil Well Road | 9/4/2025 |
communities east of Collier Boulevard from Verona Walk to Jenkins Way. | 9/11/2025 |
Naples west of US 41 from Collier Blvd to Dominica Drive. This includes the communities of Eagle Lakes, Artesia,Treviso Bay and Isles of Collier | 9/12/2025 |
Merus 3.0 is a mosquito adulticide containing pyrethrins, piperonyl butoxide, and MGK 264. Negative feedback and concerns about Merus 3.0 focus on its environmental impact, health risks to humans and non-target species, and potential for aquatic toxicity.
Environmental impact and aquatic toxicity
Highly toxic to aquatic life: Like other pyrethroid-based insecticides, Merus 3.0 is classified as highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Runoff from treated areas or spray drift can contaminate bodies of water and harm these organisms. While one study suggested it might be less toxic to certain marine life than some alternatives, it still poses a significant risk to aquatic ecosystems.
Risk to non-target insects: Merus 3.0 is a broad-spectrum insecticide, and some users and environmental advocates voice concern over its effects on beneficial insects. While mosquito control districts claim that spraying at night when bees are inactive reduces the risk, pyrethrin is toxic to bees on direct contact. The pesticide's long-term environmental presence, including its half-life in soil and sediment, raises concerns about continuous exposure for non-target organisms.
Concerns about the ecosystem: Critics of broad-spectrum spraying argue that the chemicals enter the wider ecosystem, affecting air, soil, water, and animals that eat insects. These concerns, some based on personal observation of dwindling insect and bird populations, point to the broader harm that can result from widespread chemical use.
Health effects on humans
Symptoms of over-exposure: While risk is low with proper use, over-exposure to the pyrethrins in Merus 3.0 can cause health symptoms. These include irritation to the skin and eyes, asthma-like symptoms, nausea, and vomiting.
Advice to limit exposure: Official guidelines advise residents to stay indoors during spraying and to wash any items like lawn furniture, toys, and plants that may have residue. This highlights the public health precautions needed when the substance is being used.
Personal accounts: Some community members in spray zones have reported physical sensations or concerns related to the spraying. On online forums like Reddit, some people have described feeling a "vibrating" sensation after their neighborhood is sprayed or expressed general anxiety about breathing in the "chemical mist".
Efficacy and resistance
Limited data: In one review conducted by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, researchers noted a general lack of efficacy data for Merus 3.0 in New England, suggesting it wasn't the best option at the time of review.
Pyrethroid resistance: Some mosquito populations have developed resistance to pyrethroid-based insecticides. A 2024 study in Collier County, Florida, confirmed that a newer adulticide was effective against pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes, while also running comparison trials with Merus 3.0. This indicates Merus 3.0 may not be effective against all local populations.
Reference:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://peer.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Adulticide-Product-Reviews.pdf
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