MOSQUITO CONTROL LAB TECHNICIAN (50080178)

Job Role Summary

Assists Biologists in essential Mosquito lab functions. Checks known or potential mosquito breeding sites for the presence of mosquito larvae, pupae, rafts or adults: applies insecticides by spraying or other control measures to reduce/eliminate the potential disease-bearing and nuisance mosquito population in Marion County.

Associated Job Duties

• Process and sort all trap collections for species identification by Biologist
• Assist in setting up and performing West Nile virus tests, insecticide resistance tests, and field application tests
• Performs area surveys for potential mosquito breeding sites. 
• Collects mosquito larvae/adult specimens: sorts adult mosquito collections - prior to identification and virus testing by laboratory personnel. 
• Assist in rearing larvae and adult specimens used to test for product effectiveness and mosquito resistance. 
• Checks, reads rain gauges and monitoring devices; records information on daily report and into data collecting software through hand held device.
• Conducts application of larvicides, adulticides, or other mosquito control measures in accordance with prescribed (assigned) zone/route or as required (by mosquito population data or disease transmission data). 
• Performs routine maintenance on vehicles and application equipment – and completes appropriate documentation of the condition of the vehicle. Notifies supervisor of any problems. 
• Performs daily itinerary of activities – organizing for the shift. 
• Maintains appropriate documentation of site visits and treatments 
• Transports/carries application equipment, traps and chemicals to remote or inaccessible sites. 

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Technicians may be asked to answer phones and record information from the public (Requests for Service).
• Technicians may be asked to do grounds keeping activities and equipment cleanup chores.

Qualifications

• Possession of a valid driver’s license is required and have a good driving record. 

Licenses/Certifications Required

• Valid driver’s license

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• The ability to interact with the public in a professional manner is required.
• The ability to navigate around Marion County is required.
• Technicians must work responsibly with mosquito control chemicals. 
• They must operate the mosquito control tools and machines in a responsible way.

Working Environment

• Technicians are asked to work in very extreme weather conditions. Mostly in very hot summer conditions in trucks that do not have air conditioning.
• Technicians are exposed to larviciding and adulticiding chemicals.
• Technicians are exposed to vector borne diseases.