Collier Mosquito Control District’s aircraft fleet now includes a Twin Otter fixed-wing and a second Bell 407 helicopter to perform aerial treatment missions to control both larval and adult mosquitoes. As the district prepares for boundary expansion to serve a growing community, these ships bring increased capacity and reliability, county officials said. The aerial fleet now includes three airplanes and four helicopters. The new Bell 407 helicopter is the second one purchased since 2018, and it’s specifically outfitted to apply an organic mosquito control material called Merus 3.0. The larger size of the Bell 407 allows it to carry more material than the small MD 500 helicopters. Fewer return trips to reload materials make it a more economical and efficient addition to the fleet. The new Bell’s night vision-compatible flight deck significantly improves flight safety in nighttime operations.