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  The CMCD is focused on constantly improving aerial adulticide applications in order to provide the most efficient mosquito control possible, while reducing non-target impacts. Since 1995, the CMCD has been studying drift and deposition of adulticide treatments. These studies have helped the district to design new spray systems that provide the best possible mosquito control.
The CMCD uses both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters to perform adulticiding spray missions. When treating for mosquitoes, the District uses aerial spray systems equipped with rotary nozzles that create a fine aerosol mist of insecticide that consists of droplets that are primarily 20-40 microns in diameter. The smaller droplets are much more likely to contact an adult mosquito than larger droplets, and thus this droplet spectrum is more efficient at controlling mosquitoes. In addition, the smaller droplets are less likely to deposit on the ground, therefore reducing non-target impacts.
 The Research Department at the CMCD monitors the drift and deposition of selected aerial adulticide applications. Special monitoring stations are set up down wind and under the flight path of the aircraft to collect the drift and deposition of the adulticide post application. The monitoring stations consist of yarn grids that are placed approximately 6’ in the air and catch adulticide as it drifts through the air, and boards with filter paper that are placed on the ground to collect possible insecticide deposition. After chemical analysis is done, the data from these two materials is run through special mathematical calculations that indicate how much adulticide was deposited on the ground or drifted over the target area. This information helps the CMCD to understand whether or not small droplets are being produced by the spray system. In addition, actual droplet sizes being produced by the spray system can be determined with the use of a specially designed wind tunnel and laser system.
During the mosquito season of 2007, the District tested Micronair electronic atomizers on two of the District's helicopters. The Micronair spray system produced a narrower droplet spectrum than the air assist spray system that was previously used on the aircraft and is easier to maintain. Since then, all of the District's helicopters and airplanes have been retrofitted with the Micronair electronic atomizers.
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