of the American Mosquito Control Association , by the Florida tvfosquito Control Association

Sunrise Edition Fall 1990

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fLORIDA MOSQU ITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION f'. 0. Ro~ 11867 ]acksonvilll\, flo ri rfa 32211 904/743·4482 f /IX: 904/743·6879

1990·91 Board of Directors;

PHESIOI!:NT: J. Cia rk Hudson Valonl USA Corp. 821Z Suga rbush Cl. Orl~ndo, FL 32819

PRESIOENT. r::J .ECT. Oscar T , ful!z Chat hom Co. Mosq. Coni. 1321 Elsonhower Dr, Savannah, GA 31406

VICE PR ES IDENT: George Wlchlermon L.oc Co. Mosq. Coni. P,O. Box 06005 Fl. Myers, PL 3SlJ06

SECRBTARY-TREASVRER: Elisabeth Beck P .0. Box 11867 focksonville, I'L 32211

IMM EDI ATE PAST-I'RESfOEN'F Frank D.S, Evans St. J.ucie Co. Mosq. Coni. 3150 Will F'ce Rd. Fl. Pierce. F L 33482

N.W. REGIONAL DIR ECTOR: CehO Baker Leon Co. Health Dept. Mosq . Coni. D1v. 29f\5 Municipnl Way Tallahassee, FL 32304

N.E. REGIONA L DIRECTOR; E Flagler Mosq Cont. P.O. Box 667 flagler Beach. F'l. 32036

S,W. REGIONAL DIRECTOR: Mkhael Mahler Polk Co. Ev iron Serv. P.O . Box 39 6l)rtow, F'L 33830

S. E. REG IONAL DlREC1'0R: Mnrlon Nelms Metropolitan D11de Co. Pub. Works Depl. Mosq. Coot. Oiv. 6901 N.W. 56th St. Miami. Fl. JJ t78

AMER ICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION 707 f::asl l'rieu Lake Rnad P. 0 , Box 54 16 Lake Cbarles. LA 7060&5416 3181474·2723 fAX : 318/478·9434

1990·91 Board of Directors:

PRESIDENT; Or. Robert D. Siorgren

!' RESIDENT ELECT: Mallhew M. Yates

VICE PRESIDENT: Cyrus R Lesser

!'RESI DENT 1!189: Judy A. Hansen

PR ESIDENT 1~86:

Dr. Bruce F. Eldridge

TREASUR ER: John S. Billodcaux

Rl,CIONAL 01 RE;CTORS:

Canada: Murrv Colbo Mid-At lantic; Nolan H. No"'ton Norlh Cent ral: Or. Dan Brown West Central: Keith Wagstaff South Pacl!ic: ll. Fred Beams North Atlantic: Thornos Candelelli South Atlantic: Dr, John A. Mulrennan. ]r. Sou th Centra l: Charles T. Palmisano North l'acifk : Peter DeChant Wtin AmeriC11·Caribb~an: Marco P. Suarez North East: Joe Cash

CONTENTS FEATURE "Hugo this way ... we go that way" ...... .. .... . .. . . , . .... , . .... . .. . 10 by D. Scott Taylor

It's hurricane season, again. Are you prepared? Compare your disaster plans with the recommendations of the mosquito control folks in South Carolina who had to deal with Hugo last year.

COLUMNS Bioscope: "The Salt & Pepper Marauder" . ........ . .... . . ... ... , . . . . 4 by Charlie Morris

Mosquitoes and other arthropods of medical and veterinary impor· tonce. and the disease agents they carry, ore Interesti ng creatures. Bioscope is a not-so-scientific look at the reasons why our profession exists.

Chip Chat: ''Mosquito Control's Electronic Grapevine". . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 by Glennon Dodd

Irs the computer age. It's the information age. How is mosquito con· Lrol taking advantage of the new technologies 011d the new informa· (ion? Here's one new way to keep in touch.

In Control: ''Upper Tampa Bay Park" ... .......... . ........... .. ... 15 by Carla Wright Murdoch

Mosquito control ditches have been with us since th e beginning but the ditching m ethods have changed. Here's a model project for those of you consider· ing the modern ditching alternaUve.

Nature's Way: "Alternatives for the 90's" .... .. ... . ............... . 17 by]. Da vid Miller

Mosquito control in the new millennium is bound to have biological agents as part of the arsenal. No one considers them cure-ails but they do have their places. This column examines the potentials of current and future biocontrol ngents,

The Flor ida Mo5quilo Contro l Association has n ot tested any of the products advertised or referred Jo lu this publicalfon , nor has it verified any of the statements made in any of I he advertise me nts or articles. The 1\ssocistion does not warrant, expressly or implied. the fit ness ol an·y product, advertised or th e suilabiltty of any advice or stalements contained herein .

1990 !'lorida Mosq·u ito Control As~ociation: All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited .

WING BEAT S: Published quarterly as the official publication of tho florida Mosquito Con trol Associallon and the American Mosqu ito Con trol Association . This publication is intended to keep all inte resled part ie~ informed on matters as they re late to mosqui to control, particularly in th e Unitod States ,

EDITORIAL; Address <1l l corrcspondencu regard ing editorial rnallar to Dr. Charlie Morris. Edi tor. " Wing Beals" magazine . f lorida Medical Enlornology Laborato ry , IF' AS-University of Florida , 200 9 th S1. SF.:. Vera Beach, I'L 32962; lelephone: 40?/778-?200; fAX: 4071778·7205.

ABOUT Tl:tE COVER: Sunri&e over th e Atlantic Ocean on florida's east coast nea r Vero Beach. Pholo by Alan Curtis, Indian River Mosquito Control District, Vero Beach, florida.

Bioscope

~ The Salt & Pepper

Marauder Charlie Morris

The sun is low on the horizon. It's the time you would head for home if you were in your Louisiana bayou. But you're not. you're on vacation; your first in upstate New York for both you and your dad. It's been a good day fishin' and one more hour could make it a great day, so you stay.

The sky is getting that reddish tint that signals day's end during the sum­mer in the Empire State. The air is still, the water is calm, the mood is serene, and the other boats are well on thei r way back. Lake Cicero and its tranquil swamp are all yours now. It just doesn't get any better that this, you think to yourself, as you reach for half a sand­wich to hold you until dinner. Those succulent bass on the stringer will taste

great. You've just repositioned yourself on

the raised seat of your bass boat, rod in one hand and sandwich in the other, when you first notice the familiar hum -a mosquito. You're prepared, so you do what you've done a thousand times before back home, you douse yourself with "OFF." Problem solved. Wait a minute, the hum gets louder and- sud­denly -the redness of the sunset begins to darken with a multitude of hum producers.

The logic of the other boaters who left some time ago now becomes clear to you - whoops. ''Perhaps not getting a local fishin' guide was not' so smart after all," Dad bellows over the drone of the mosquitoes. "The OFF should

do the trick," you reassure Dad. In an instant you recognize the naivete of that statement. Not to fear, they are on­ly mosquitoes, not alligators.

Their numbers continue to increase and more and more of them get turn­ed on to the OFF. or so it seems, as the two of you frantically ready the boat for the escape. How quickly these large black and white mosquitoes have transformed your paradise into something less. very much less. You begin to imagine that it 's the fish fighting back. They must have salt and peppered a million needles and are throwing them at you: the fish's version

Continued on page 13

A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALL MOSQUITO PROFESSIONALS. I.

VecTec is proud to announce it has received EPA registration for its new permethrin mosquito adulticide, PUNT 57 OS, as a ground ULV and barrier spray.

PUNT 57 OS has the Qualities Professionals want: It is:

A. A concentrated ULV oil soluble formulation. B. Less costly per acre than other permethrin ULV formulations; 30 to 50 P.ercent. C. Effective against organophosphate resistant strains, D. Much less toxic to mammals than either Malathion or Dursban. E. Highly toxic to troublesome mosquitoes such as Ae. albopictus and

Ae. taeniorhynchus. F. Non-irritant, non-corrosive and virtually odorless in use. G. A quick knockdown product; 1'no biting frenzy."

For more details call Vee Tee's NATIONAL SERVICE NUMBER 1-800-367-1299.

\J ec lec'NC. FIRST IN FLYING INSECT CONTROL

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4

THE BIGGEST THING YET FOR CONTROLLING MOSQUITOES

ALL SEASON LONG. .

Our new briquet makes any other mosquito treatment look small. Because just one application of ALTOS1o~ XR Briquets gives you fie ld-proven, effective control for five months. All you need to do is place the briquets into catch basins, ditches-any area where water collects. ALTOSID XR slowly dissolves throughout the season, fighting mosquitoes where they live and breed. There 's no heavy equipment. No huge manpower and fuel expenses. And no re-treatment after rains. The big secret behind the briquets' effectiveness is methoprene, an Insect Growth Regulator that prevents larvae from developing into biting, reproducing adults. But methoprene won't harm non-target insects. And it's environmentally sound. In fact, methoprene is approved by the World Health Organization for controlling mosquitoes in potable drinking water. ~ • ®

So end the mosquito season before it starts. Only with ALTOSID XR. Call Zoecon at 1-800-527-7481 for your nearest distributor and AltD&Id XR to find out more of the benefits found in our little briquet. The smart way to fight mosquitoes.

I Always read the label before using the product. I ~1990 Zoecon, PPM. professional pest management. A Division of Zoecon Corporafion , A Sandoz Company. 12200 Denton . . Drfvo, Oalla1; , Texas 75234. ALTOSIO and PPM are trademarks of Sandoz Ltd. For more information, ca111·800·527·7481.

5

Chip Chat

Glennon Dodd

Mosquito Control's Electronic Grapevine

When I was a student at Cornell, I prepared for a career in mosquito con­trol by studying English Renaissance Drama and attending several my-life-in­academia faculty lectures. Shake­speare, Marston, Tourneur et al were bloody, sex-laden, violent, cynical- in exuberant violation of any local com­munity norms you care to name. They were even, as some think important, marginally relevant to today's world. For example. who in mosquito control will not resonate with the angst im­plicit in Hamlet's words: "Buzz, Buzz, Buzz''; or weep at Bosola's forlorn hope in the Duchess of Malfi:

I' ll seek thee out, and all my care shall be To put thee into safety I'rom the reach Of these most cruel biters, that nave got Some of thy blood already.

(He ends up accidentally stabbing the man he's trying to help - a non­target violation of EPA standards for sure).

The professors weren't nearly as memorable. In fact , all that sticks with me is that every talk began with vir­tually the same sentiments, and often the same words:

"The subject of {3 is so broad­reaching that it touches virtually every aspect of human existence. eit.her directly or indirectly. I have spent my academic life studying it, and still have only the barest outline of its true shape. Clearly, in an hour or two, I ca n't begin to explain {3 or even introduce it ap­propriately. Nonetheless, I hope to give you some feel for what {3 is about, so you can see why people like me devote ourselves to its study. Maybe. you'll be st imulated to look at {3 fur ther, and study it for yourself."

It boiled down to: it can't be understood, it can't be explained, but damn it 's important! At the time, this rhetorical formula of pre-apology and self-deprecation seemed silly and

beside the point. Twenty years later, having tried to comprehend the vice p residency, the insecticide labeling process. and the Nikon SB-24 elec­tronic-nash manual, I realize they had understated things: even when its not important, it can't be understood or explained.

And now, showing the peculiar by" ways of American education, l'm preparing to write the introductory data processing column for Wing Beats. Well, Cornell prepared me for the first part of the job . . ..

DATA PROCESSING AND MOSQUITO CONTROL

The topic of data processing is so broad-reaching it touches virtually every aspect of mosquito control. either directly or indirectly. Word pro­cessing, finances, service requests, field inspections, treatment records, statistics, modeling and experimental analysis, desktop publishing for public information and education and staff education are all being computerized by local districts, state organizations, and research institutions. Clearly, one or two magazine columns can't begin to cover these uses or even introduce one of them adequately. Still, over the next few issues 1 hope we can cover {3 -excuse me, 1 mean "data processing" - in a way that will stimulate you to look at your computers differently, and perhaps expand the way you and others use them,

So, if it can't be done, where do we start? With a d igression, of course. Pundits of modern culture have declared we are in the Information Age, and computers get much of the credit. Computers help convert data in­to information by performing complex analyses of numeric data. They also perform this metamorphosis by stor­ing, organizing, and retrieving vast

6

quantities of non~numeric data. This has transformed the reference sections of even small libraries with collections of abstracts and indexes unavailable a decade ago. Word processors and graphing packages help create infor­mation by facilitating that most human of processes, trial and error, allowing more people the chance to discover the best ways to communicate their ideas.

BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEMS (BBS)

The most dynamically computerized information resides in the electronic realm of the BBS. "BBS" is not a stut­terer's critiq ue of this column so far. It stands for Bulletin Board System, and refers to a program that runs on a computer which is hooked into the telephone system. Using another com­puter, a user can call the BBS and read information already there or leave. notes for others. Many systems allow mult iple users to write and reply to one another in real time.

To use a BBS you need a computer, communications software to turn your computer into a terminal, and a modem to attach the computer to the telephone line. Virtually any computer can work as a terminal talking to a BBS. Excelleht communications soft­ware is available at prices starting at $25, and the least expensive modems now cost less than a $70.

There are thousands of BBS's throughout the United States. Some are run as hobbies; others are provided by vendors for product support. The largest BBS's are commercial en­deavors, designed to make money from connect-time fees that can run over $100 an hour. Of these, some are read­only data bases intended for specific professions. Others, like CompuServe, are generalized services which are sub-

Continued on page 7

GRAPEVINE Continued from page 6

divtded i.nto SICs (Special Interest Croups), where you can look for specialized information, and com­municate directly with others.

BBS's allow us to share experience and ask questions without the face-to­face embarrassment of appearing ig­norant, and with the opportunity to think at leisure about the opinions of others. The mediation of keyboard and screen require forethought and organ­ization, and objectify and reflect our ideas back to us as we WTite. The partial or complete anonymity of the participants promotes openness and risk taking; and the diverse number of participants often yield unexpected perspectives as well as answers to particular problems. A good BBS is a unique mode of communication: a liv­ing reference text perpetually evolving and rewriting itself in response to the stimuli of its users.

THE FMEL/HRS BBS

This year, the Florida Medical En­tomology Laboratory (FMEL) estab­lished a BBS for mosquito control. The FMEL is a research station within the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (TFAS). Development, installation and main­tenance of the BBS is funded by grants from the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services' Ento­mology Services (HRS) obtained by the FMEr;s Director, Dr. Richard Baker.

This BBS is on-line 24 hours a day, and available at no charge to anyone who dials in. It is divided into a hierar­chy of Categories, Topics, and Replies. Categories are guideposts to the BBS's contents. Topics are the BBS's Special Interest Croups. Replies are individual notes pertinent to a topic.

Some of the opening Category choices are directed at Florida mos­quito control districts, and contain items like Entomology Services' memoranda. Most others are not Florida-specific. These Categories in­clude POSITIONS-OPEN; a synopsis of recent JOURNA L CONTENTS and another for NEWSLETTERS; an

AMCA-DIRECTORY; and one for BBS-ASSISTANCE.

,Potentially the most important Category is USER-BBS. This is the Category intended for interactive use. Its Topics range from Biocontrol and Biology to Taxonomy and a Psion user's group. After you have entered USER-BBS and chosen a topic, you can page through exist ing Replies and add Replies of your own, using BBS's built-in text editor. Unfortunately, the BBS does not have "search" features allowing you to find just those Replies pertaining to specific words, and the process of looking through a series of Replies 20 lines at a time can become frustrating. Nonetheless, when the content of the Replies is rich, the time is well spent.

The BBS runs on Digital Equipment Corporation VAX equipment obtained through the joint efforts of the FMEL and IFAS computer support staff. The BBS is currently based on VaxNotes software.

All BBS's have a "sysop" -a SYStem OPerator who periodically checks in-

coming messages, purges out-of-date items, and plays Dr. Fixit to as many technical problems as possible. The Sysop for this BBS is Bob Blackwell, who established the initial Categories and supervised entry of the BBS's core data-set. Bob has also written an ex­cellent manual that pilots new users from dialing in, finding Topics and entering Replies, and exiting the BBS. ff you want further information or a copy of the User's Guide, you can reach Bob by leaving a message on the BBS in the Comments/Q&A topic under the N-PC-COMPUTER-FORUM category. You can call Bob at 407/778-7200 or you can write him at: the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, 200 9th Street S.E., Vera Beach FL 32962.

Instructions for accessing the BBS are included in this article. If you are new to modems and BBS's, keep in mind that computer communications falls somewhere between setting a microwave and learning a video game. Sometimes the crust turns to card-

Continued on page 8

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STANDARD FEATURES INCLUDE: • 100 Lb. Capacity Aluminum Hopper • 360 Degree Horizontal Adjustment • Anodized Aluminum Frame • Overall Weight 50 Jbs. • Two-Cycle Engine • Discharge distance app. 50 ft.

For Additional information or quotation contact:

CENTRAL FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Post Office Box 124 • Auburndale, Florida 33823·0124

(813) 965-1214

7

GRAPEVINE Continued from page 7

board, and sometimes the computer wins. However, the rules are simple and after a couple times, Jogging on and navigating through the Categories and Topics becomes intuitive. The pro­cedure outlined assumes you are using the earlier versions of ProComm, and not ProComm Plus. Operation with ProComm Plus is significantly dif­ferent; the differences are discussed in the User's Guide.

AN D NEXT ...

The success of a BBS is measured by how much it is used, and FMEI:s must now be discovered by its audience. A good BBS generates a self-sustaining critical mass of participants. To suc­ceed, the FMEL BBS probably needs ten or twenty regular contributors across the country, and two or three times that many who log-on occa­sionally. While these numbers sound small, they would constitute an entirely new communications network of mos­quito control professionals at the operational level. It would be the equivalent of the chance-encounter hallway symposia at conventions, but available every hour of every day, and without having to attend the banquet.

Glen Dodd has been the Assis· tant Director of the Indian River Mosquito Control Dis· trict in ~ro Beach since 1980. He brings a unique perspective to problem solving in Florida mosquito control.

Mosquito Control Bulletin Board develope•s Dick Baker a nd Bob Blackwell.

Using the Mosquito Control BBS 1) Start your communications software and select VT-100 emulation. 2) Within the communication program, set the following parameters:

Baud rate: 300, 1200 or 2400

Data bits: 8 Stop bits: 1 Parity: NO or NONE Duplex: FULL Flow Control: YES

3) Call the BBS direct, at 407/778-7207. You should be connected on the first or second ring. If not try again. 4) After connecting, you need to LOGIN:

You type: The computer responds: You type: The computer responds: You type: The computer responds: You type:

Enter (hit the RETURN key) *LOCAL

C VERO: USERNAME EXT PASSWORD BULLETIN

The computer responds with a welcome message. 5) When you are finished you must log out of the computer.

You type: EXIT or hit "Ctrl + Z" 1-2 times

6) Once you are on the bulletin board, point to the menu item by using the F6/F8 keys to move the on-screen point~7r up or down, and then hit F3. Try either DIR or hit Ctrl + Z to back out of any particular level.

8

Feature

[!] "Hugo this way ...

D. Scott Taylor

''June, too soon; July, standby; August, look out you must September, remember; October, all over."

Long ago, some mariner who was perhaps too painfully familiar with tropical Atlantic hurricanes coined this phrase. "September, remember": This, the first issue of Wing Beats, is commemorated in September, but September will be recalled by many residents throughout the Caribbean and coastal areas of the eastern U.S. as the month Hurricane Hugo disrupted their lives.

Born in early September 1989 off the coast of West Africa, Hugo made hjs first landfall in the eastern Carib­bean islands of Monseratt and Guadelupe and then struck Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Nervous residents along the eastern seaboard of the U.S. watched as Hugo chose his final target. Charleston, South Carolina was tbe hapless victim, and around midnight on September 21, this community was devastated by 135 mph winds (gusting to 180 mph), a 12!17' storm surge and torrents of rain. Hugo eventually died as a weakened low pressure system in southern Canada, but his 2,300 mile destructive jaunt left44 human deaths. more than 150,000 homeless, and more than 6 billion dollars in property damage.

Hugo was a Category 4 hurricane (out of a possible 5), one of the 10 worst this century and the most fierce to strike the Atlantic coast in 35 years. With the memory of Hugo fresh in our minds and speculation among scien­tists that the greenhouse effect may be at play in the formation of recent

... we go that way." monster hurricanes (for example, Gilbert in 1988, a Category 5 storm}, more and more coastal residents are preoccupied with the implications of a hurricane strike. Florida residents, in particular, who have not suffered a major hit since Donna in 1961, are wondering what the consequences would be. Homeowners worry, bus­inesspeople worry, but what about those of us in mosquito control opera­tions? What would be the effects of a major storm like Hugo on our jobs and

how might we learn from the lessons Hugo slammed ashore in South Carolina?

The three major destructive elements of a hurricane, wind, rain and tidal surge, can directly have a bearing on a mosquito control opera­tion by damaging equipment, struc­tures, or buildings. In the field, a storm can create tremendous mosquito broods and at the same time alter long­standing mosquito breeding patterns.

Martin Hyatt, Manager of Charleston Co. Mosquito Abatement and L. A. Williams, Director, Division of Vector Control, South Carolina Dept. of Health and Environmental Control have mentally relived the long hours of Hugo's visit many times since last September. With 2 days advance notice of landfall, Martin had time to go over the pre-storm plan which he

10

keeps on file and to secure heavy equipment and buildings. Light traps were brought in from the field and all vehicles were parked under cover. A valuable ditching macrune, which had been on a job in the field , was moved to a safe inland location and one of two helicopters was flown well inland, while the other was cached in a building designed to withstand max­imum hurricane force winds. In an­ticipation of extended power outages, all vehicles were fully fueled and spray equipment was loaded with adulticide. With grounds, buildings, and equip­ment secured, it was just a matter of waiting out the storm. When the spume had stopped flying, 24 of 46

counties in South Carolina were declared disaster areas. L. A. Williams describes the post-Hugo scenery as looking like "a combination giant weed eater and rototiller had gone through the envirorunent".

In Charleston County, the mosquito abatement program offices suffered lit­tle damage and personnel worked for the first week after Hugo with the Public Works Department. aiding in clearing roadways and hauling untold tons of debris to temporary landfills. The program's one functional helicopter was used both for surveillance and for county functions, such as checking inaccessible county buildings.

Hugo was not an exceptionally wet hurricane: a total of 12" of rain fell dur­ing and after the storm, but by September 30 the first adult mos­quitoes came pouring by the millions out of the inundated swamps and lowlands. Martin anticipated the onslaught and after an announcement over the one functioning radio station, ground adulticiding began. This was the first step in the weeks long ordeal with one of the worst mosquito situa­tions that even the old timers could

remember. Over the next 4 weeks nearly 200,000 acres were sprayed with malathion by the 9 overworked ULV trucks, but the mounds of debris piled at the roadsides prevented effective drift. Numerous blocked roads also curtailed effective coverage, and as an added headache, the trucks were con­stantly plagued by flat tires from the thousands of nails blown into road­ways from shattered homes.

The first break in this one-sided bat­tle came on October 7, when Beaufort County (located 60 miles south of Charleston) offered the services of their OC-3, which aerial adulticided nearly 31,000 acres of Charleston Co. with malathion.

However, both Martin and L.A., deluged by complaints from citizens who were living in homes with blown­out windows and screens and working outdoors well into the mosquito­infested evening, bad ly needed to escalate the war. L.A. lodged a direct appeal with the State Health Commis­sion requesting support from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). The bureaucracy churned this request through its channels and the CDC (Center for Disease Control) was contracted within 24 hrs to began adult surveillance, with a particular concern over the potential for ar­bovirus outbreaks.

The CDC operated light traps for two weeks and viral assays were conducted on captured adults. L. A. Williams then met with representatives from FEMA who reported that although no evi­dence of viral activity was found, the overall abundance of mosquitoes was severely impacting relief and recovery efforts. FEMA formally requested the Dept. of Defense to assist in aerial spraying, and during the period from October 25 to November 18 an Air Force C-130 aerial adulticided 850,000 acres in 10 S. Carolina counties with Dibrom. Flight operations took place only during the last 2 1/2 hours of daylight, as the Air Force pilots were unfamiliar with the territory. Nearly 80,000 acres were treated in Charleston Co. alone. Local health departments, in cooperation with FEMA. delineated the areas to be sprayed. The operation cost $500,000, but both Martin and L.A. feel that it was money well spent,

as no doubt do the citizens of South Carolina who enjoyed a 90-95% reduc­tion in ad ult mosquito populations.

FEMA was much maligned in press accounts of the Hugo incident, with charges of mismanagement and foot­dragging flying. L.A. Williams found the agency both "conscientious and competent" in meeting the needs of mosquito abatement. Media announce­ments in advance of the aerial spray­ing kept the public well-informed and all the normal procedures in contact­ing pesticide regulatory agencies and bee-keepers were followed. This careful coordination resulted in only 4 com­plaints about the spraying from the public, an astounding feat considering the size of this aerial operation.

With the furious and desperate pace of the job facing them after Hugo. Charleston Co. MCD personnel had lit­tle time to analyze the "whats, whens and wheres" of their unprecedented mosquito problem. In the 28 years of record keeping prior to Hugo, Martin attributes 70.80% of all adult mosquito problems to the two salt marsh species:

11

Aedes sollicitons and Aedes taeniorhyn­chus. However, immediately after Hugo the situation changed dramatically. Mosquito eggs lying in salt marshes were presumably destroyed by the tremendous tidal inundation these areas received. Lowland and fresh­water habitats were heavily flooded and as result, the major mosquitoes ap­pearing after Hugo's passage were the floodwater species Psorophoro ferox , Ps. columbine, Ps. ciliata, Aedes at/an­ticus, Ae. tormentor, and Ae, vexons. Following these, many Culex salinarius put in an appearance. Not only did the heavy rains provide the water for breeding, the tremendous fall of organic debris stripped from trees created a pri me nu trient soup for developing larvae. In add it ion, d rainage from upland areas poured tons of organic mater ial in to larval pools. This ideal larval habitat, of course, was not ideal fo r fish and massive fish kills were reported in areas afflicted by Hugo, due to oxygen stress resulting from decomposing

Continued on page 12

HUGO Continued from page 11

vegetation. Four million fish were estimated to have died in the state, and many of them were larvivorous spe­cies. Many homeowners were sur­prised to see their swimming pools turn into giant container breeding habitats. following the loss of electric power to run filter systems.

Martin surmises that mosquito eggs that were long dormant were given a golden opportunity to hatch following Hugo and this, coupled w'ith an already wet year with high ad ult counts, led to the explosion from which he is still reeling. Coastal areas were severely devastated by lidal surge and sediment and sand movement, im­plying that many salt-marsh mosquito breeding marshes are so altered that they may not produce mosquitoes fo r some years to come.

This scouring of tides and sediments has thus alleviated these sources of salt marsh mosquitoes. but Martin admits that the ever-opportunistic species will no doubt move elsewhere. MC D per­sonnel will have to double their surveillance efforts for some years to document where new breeding is oc­curring. !n addition, the damage to the dikes and struct ures of waterfowl im­poundments and managed marshes will mean added responsibilities. The loss of control over water levels in these areas will probably mea n in­creased salt marsh mosquito breeding.

Further inland in the coastal forests and plains, the toppling of many millions of trees by the strong winds created just as many holes, where the root ball lifted from the wet ground. These "tree pits" (Martin estimates that there are now over 10 million in Charleston Co. alone!) will be a nuisance for years to come. Long established trai ls and inspection routes will have to be abandoned or recut th rough the tangle of downed trees.

After any traumatic event we are prone to ask ourselves: "What would we do differently to prepare or react to the event?" Mosquito control per­sonnel in South Carolina are confident that they performed as well as could be expected under the circumstances, but Martin Hyatt ca n offer some sug­gestions nonetheless:

1) You can be prepared. Have a pre-

written hurricane plan, keep it s imple so that all personnel can understand it and practice or review it yearly or as the hurricane approaches.

2) Have a prepared statement for the media, describing what your opera­tions will be and recommendations for the public (for example: draining swimming pools).

3) Anticipate the loss of electric power and communications. Have backup generators for necessary opera­t ions and devise a plan to com­mtmicate with your staff following the storm.

4) Check your insurance coverage. You may be overlooking some details that you will regret later.

5) Use an adulticiding agent with a fast knockdown (Dibrom or Scouge).

6) Don't sweat over budget details. Spend what you need to spend to get the job done. FEMA has reimbursed mosquito districts satisfactorily.

7) Train your staff through Nat ional Weather Service or FEMA programs.

8) Be alert for looters within your own staff while on the job.

9) Relax as much as you can before.

during and after the storm: This will be a time of unprecedented stress in your life.

As some witty South Carolinians fled inland from Hugo, they sported signs on their cars which said: " Hugo this way, we go that way!" Which ever way we go during or following a storm like Hugo, we know that lire will go on, that there wiU still be mosquitoes, and that hopefully we may all Jearn something from the experience of those in South Carolina. But this September, remember: Should another Hugo loom over the horizon near the coasts of your state, will you be prepared and what would you do?

D. Scott Taylor is the Environ­mental Resources Specialist for the Brevard County Florida Mosquito Control District and a freelance writer who has written articles for N aturaJ History magazine and the Florida Naturalist.

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3f the baited-hook. A vision of being 5tL-ung up by your heels, by fish, at the :>attorn of the lake alternates with the unage of what Dad will put you ::,rough after you get out of this.

Having worked through a maze of cattails to get to this ''ideal" fishing o;pot, you must now work your way oack to reach the safety of open water. The cattails keep the boat speed below that of the following horde so the ..-icious attack continues, relentlessly. A tsft here, a right up ahead, another left and it's open water. Surely one of us >.rill live through this , you think to yourself, but you're not sure which ·'one'' you want it to be.

Ok, it's open water now; full throt­de: the bow rises sharply. You'll show ~;hese miniature salt & pepper javelins . . -\small grin cracks your face. The boat accelerates quickly but the hum rioesn't d iminish; the grin fades. Fin­ally, the attack subsides; the pain

doesn't. Neither of you say anytning. It will be that way for the rest of the boat ride.

The sight of your Ram Charger and trailer as you approach the dock lifts your spirits, briefly. It 's then you realize that you must slow, and even­tually stop, the boat. You know who will be waiting for you at the dock. The hums can be heard already. You ex­change knowing-glances and sad-nods. Perhaps we can cruise around the lake all night, or sleep submerged in the water and breath through a reecL you reason, but not aloud.

Sanity returns and you men tally prepare to become, once again, the mosquitoes' steak dinner, salt and pep­per included. "Dinner? The fish!" you remember. In the hurry to escape someone forgot to pull in the stringer with the day's catch. You look - they' re gone. "I knew it! It was the fi sh fighting back." The hum turns to laughter in your mind.

Postlog: Freshwater marshes, par­ticularly those with large expanses of cattails and some other plants, are

often dominated by what some knowledgeable entomologists ap­propriately dubbed CoquiJJittidia per­turbans. "Perturbing" is an understate­ment in the memories of those with an experience like you and your dad. As the lyrics almost say: From California to the New York Island, from the Gulf Stream waters to the redwood forest. this wetland was made for Coquillet­tidia perturbans ... the salt and pepper marauder.

Charlie Morris is an Assistant Professor and the Extension Medical Entomologist at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, IFAS·University of Florida, Vero Beach.

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In Control

6 Upper Tampa Bay Park Carlo Wright Murdoch

In March of 1985 the riiJlsborough County Mosquito <J nd Aquatic Weed Control Department of Tampa, Florida com pleted a ditching project to control the saltmarsh mosquitoes m a coun ty owned park. Five ~:ears later the project still con­;,rols mosquitoes. This is the story o.f that successful project as told br the project leader, Carla ).Iurdoch.

Upper Tampa Bay Park is a 596 acre ;Jeninsula located at the northern end of upper Tampa Bay, between Double Branch Creek and Mobbly Bay. The Park has approximately 250 acres of coastal wet lands which receive periodic tidal inundations from the creek and Tampa Bay as well as runoff from rainfall. Residents near the park. and park users, were plagued by salt marsh mosquitoes originating from these wetlands. The Hillsborough County Mosquito and Aquatic Weed Control Department had to treat this area primarily from the air, as ground access was off road and difficult. It was a prime area for a sou rce reduction project.

Some of the mosquito producing areas were man made, caused by ,·ehicles driving along the edge of the grassy salt flats creating tire ruts and . possibly, from nearby McDill Air Force Base fighter planes having target · ;Jractice years ago leaving behind what appear to be bomb craters. The other mosquito producing areas were natural grassy depressions in the saltmarsh that held water after tides or rain.

inspection records, that date back to January 1977, documented the ;Jresence of mosquito larvae within the

project site. These records provided the just ification for this mosquito control source reduction project.

Thanks to the efforts of J. D. (Dan) Gorman, Director of the Hillsborough County Mosquito and Aquatic Weed Control Department, much interest and assistance in this project was generated in several state and local agencies. Gorman's influence led to a mulliagency project.

The Florida Department of En­vironmental Regulation that permitted this project required it be monitored fo r three years after construction; primarily for mosquitoes, vegetation, fluctuations in water elevations and water quality. These requirements, and the analysis of the data gathered, were accomplished with the help of Dr. Carl R. Goodwin and Mack Woodham, Environmental Studies Section of the United States Geological Survey; Joel Jacobson, Hillsborough County Mos· quito and Aquatic Weed Control Pro· gram; Mike L. Thomas , a Hillsborough County Park Manager of Upper Tampa Bay Park; Director Jim Robinson of nearby Pasco County Mosquito Control; Biologist David

15

Crew z of the Florida Department of Natural Resources, Florida Marine Research Institute, and one time Curator of the University of South Florida Herbarium; Dr. Paul Carlson, Jr. of the Florida Department of Natural Resources, Florida Marine Research Institute, and Dr. Charlie Morris of the Florida Medical En­tomology Laboratory, University of Florida.

Seventeen sampling stations were established in mosquito breeding habitats of the upper saltmarsh in 1984. Larval dip counts were taken weekly at each station from Aug~st 1984 through April 1988. The sampl­ing stations were grouped according to habitat characteristics for statistical comparisons of mosquito production. The four groups ·.were:

CRATERS: Four bomb Craters, 15·20' diameter depressions, surround· ed by a thick growth of Seashore Saltgrass (Distichlis spicoto) and Salt Jointgrass (Pospolum voginotum).

MA RSH: Two areas within the fiat saltmarsh with sparse populations of Seashore Saltgrass and Saltwort (Batis maritima.)

EDGE-DITC H ED: Nine, 5-15' diameter depressions, with tire ruts, along the landward edge of the saltmarsh, near saltbarrens and associated with a variety of saltmarsh grasses and succulents.

EDGE-NOT DITCH ED: Two addi­tional, smaller depressions similar to those described above were left un­ditched to serve as "controls" ill evaluating the impact of the ditching on mosquito production.

The project consisted of excavating a 75' diameter minnow reservoir 3' deep to maintain permanent water in the upper salt marsh, and digging 5, 20' deep ditches, totaling approximate­ly 1600', connecting the breeding sites to the reservoir to allow predatory top feeding minnows access to the mos­quito producing areas. The rotary ditcher used to excavate the shallow ' 'V '' shaped ditches scattered the spoil over the salt marsh with out altering the topography of the marsh: this prevented the encroachment of undesirable upland plants onto the upper saltmarsh.

Prior to construction, larval collec­tions consisted of at least 89.3% of the 2 saltmarsh mosquito species, Aedes toeniorhynchus and Aedes solJjcitons larvae. There were a few Anopheles atropos and Psorophoro larvae.

For the three years after construction there were 91.5 to 98.7% fewer larvae overall. The reductions in Aedes larvae were even better; 97.2 to 99.9%. On the other hand, the numbers of Anopheles larvae were higher after the ditching. This increase is attributed to lower salinity levels in the project pond and ditches which tend to store freshwater runoff. This in turn has encouraged the establishment and proliferation of saltgrass. This grass became especial­ly thick in the Craters and along the ditches to the center of the marsh, and

0 .6

o.s Anopheles atropos

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provided Anopheles Larvae gTeater pro­tection from predatory fish.

This significant increase, yet still low level of production, of Anopheles has not posed a problem since this species is not a significant pest mosquito in the area, unlike the saltmarsh Aedes that were there before ditching. 6 .0

Saltmarsh Aedes

-~----' Ycu ~Her 2 Yt!~'.$ .after !J ..... ,~ alter

RelationshiO lo di1chmg

There are two reasons for this shift in mosquitoes. from Aedes to Anopheles. First, Anopheles atropos females lay their eggs on the surface of the water and breeding is continuous as long as water is present. Populations are smaller overall and only a few adults are present at any one time. The saltmarsh Aedes, in contrast, lay their eggs on moist soil and the larvae hatch when inundated by tides or rainfall. These water events synchronize development of the aquatic stages of Aedes, and when the adults emerge they tend to do so in very large broods. These broods cause the sever mosquito problems historicaUy associated with Florida saltmarshes. Second, Anopheles atropos usually bite only at night, when fewer people are in the park, and their flight range tends to be less than one mile. The Aedes, unfor­tunately for us, bite during the day as weU as at night, and adults can make flights up to 20 miles away from their breeding areas. The trade off of Aedes for Anopheles is, in this case. more than acceptable.

Prior to project construction mos­quito larvae were more abundant dur­ing the summer and fall months of the year when the project site received more tidal inundations and rain. Summer squalls and high winds push high tides into the upper saltmarshes of Upper Tampa Bay. It takes tides ap­prmdmately 2.4' above mean sea level to inundate the site. After project con­struction the presence of mosquito lar­vae, although greatly reduced overall,

16

were more abundant during the winter than during the summer.

This is attributed to the site being less stable in the winter with coolei·

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temperatures and lower water eleva­tions that support, and restrict the dispersal of, a smaller population of top feeding minne>ws.

It's now 1990 and I last visited the site about 6 months ago. The pond and ditches are still functioning as de­signed. The area is pleasant to be in and provides a productive and pleasurable green space in one of the most densely populated counties in Florida. Eventually the ditches will need maintenance, of course, but for 5 years now, and who knows how longer, there have been no insecticides applied to this little piece of Florida . The cooperative efforts by many in­dividuals from many organizations has paid-off.

My boss, Ja mes F. Shinholser, Director of Mosquito Control for Pinellas County, has been most patient and supportive, allowing me to com· plete this project while being his Assis­tant Director. r owe him a special thanks.

Carla Wright Munlo£h was the Source Reduction Specialist for the Hillsborough County Mosquito and Aquatic Weed Control Department before be· comi)\g the Assistant Mos­quito Control Director in nearby Pinellas County in 1986.

Nature's Way

Alternatives for the 90's f. David Miller

Voltaire once said "If you wish to wnverse with me, .. , please define ~·our terms." Biological control of mos­q uitoes is tbe introduction, encourage­ment or manipulated increase of the natural enemies of mosquitoes. One can conserve mosquito predators by avoiding damage to their natural populations or habitats, or one can augment mosquito predators by con· !rolled culture in the field or laboratory.

We in pest control know that the general public often fails to understand tbat ours is a chemicaJ world, a ~adioactive world, a world bombarded by ultraviolet light, and filJed with bacterial spores and viruses. At the mention of the word pesticide many people cry "Dear Myrtle!" The word to them means poison, and poison is ::lf course unnatural, man-made, evil. \1ention biocontrol on the other hand, and that is automatically good, natural, \1other Nature's Way.

Well, everything natural isn't safe or g reat. Some animals, plants, and fungi produce chemicals so venomous they're like wrecking balls from outer space, lyzing through the metabolites of life like so many razor blades through rubber bands. Common table saJt could never get a pesticide label ­ioo dangerous.

For three centuries, when Mother Nature was on the job, settlers in Florida were ravaged by mosquito borne disease. Malaria-causing chills no blanket could cure, sweats no ice. bath could stop, death. Yellow fever turned the patients insides to mush causing them to have bouts of vomiting and diarrhea until they died from fluid Joss. Dengue, the common name says everything: breakbone fever. That is by no means the end of the list, but for now it is enough.

If you want to experience a piece of

history, spend a night on a isolated island in the company of the lovely golden salt marsh mosquito, Aedes sollicitans, or its cousin the black salt marsh mosquito, Aedes toeniorhychus. If you're not a gibbering fool by morn­ing you'll at least be convinced of the need for mosquito control.

It is important to remember that if the natural enemies of mosquitoes were doing their job, we wouldn't need mosquito control in the first place.

People often ask, "What are mos­quitoes good for?" Well, like many old­time Florida residents, mosquitoes are masters at developing unwanted real estate. Almost any shallow; undis­turbed collection of water is utilized by some species of mosquito. However, their main role in the scheme of things appears to be to fly from one blood source to another injecting microorganisms. Therein lies the crux of the matter; mosquitoes are not merely a nuisance, they can be fatal.

Since 1925, Florida's organized mos­quito control programs have done a good job preventing the sky-darkening swarms of these insects which characterized early Florida. We have eliminated malaria, yellow fever. and dengue. St. Louis and eastern encephalitis, except in horses, is prac­tically a thing of the past. However, in spite of all these accomplishments mosquitoes persist and, indeed, often thrive and make a nuisance of themselves.

As we face the 1990s we must con­sider the facts. Modern Florida is a created environment; an econiche very much altered by man for his safety, welfare, and comfort. Mosquitoes are not simply going to go away, there are too many kinds, with too many special adaptations. They breed in rain pools, artificial containers, pastures and road­side ditches, as well as in the ponds,

17

lakes,swamps and marshes which we are so desperate to preserve, and rightly so for they are the cradles of much of the animal life which makes Florida so special.

The quality of Florida's outdoor life is becoming more important to Florida residents. Organized mosquito control must make sure it is listed among the "good guys" where the environment is concerned.

Mosquito larval habitats are often areas which breed only mosquitoes, gnats, or other undesirable aquatic in­sects. In that respect they are "sick" ecologically. Good examples are the storm water retention and detention ponds now required by state law to pre­vent flooding. These areas can be made "healthy" by stocking them with aquatic plants that do not promote mosquito breeding and minnows that will feed on any mosquitoes that do in· vade. Mosquito control agencies should try and obtain the respon· sibility for mainta ining these structures.

The benefits would be threefold: new funding could be acquired by the agency, the community would have in· creased natural resources, and the public would begin to see mosquito control as the ''Johnny Appleseeds" of the community.

One positive news story on biocon· trol can provide invaluable PR. A return not to be scorned in view of the reactionary articles often printed about mosquito controL It is a sad but true fact that most of the public sees us as a coilection of mosquito trucks spray­ing out poison. We simply must reverse that image, and soon, if we are to avoid additional bans on the few pesticides we have left.

At present there are no effective biocontrol agents for adult mosquitoes. Bio-control is more conducive to

placing stress on larval mosquitoes breeding in sites of a permanent or semipermanent nature, and in coor­dination with permanent control measures.

1n order to select useful biocontrol methods for mosquitoes it is important to be a well-rounded biologist. Biocon­trol candidates are often selected from many d ifferent animal groups and usually in conjunction w ith plant species. Candidates should be selected so that site modification is minimized and long-term control is maximized. It can not be emphasized enough that we need to ta rget our efforts to the mosqujto species we a re t rying to control.

It has been said that there are two working cities in the United States and Walt Disney owns both of them. Perhaps w hat is needed is some of Walt's famous "lmagineering." It may be a good idea to look outside the United States for biocontrol can­didates. This type of "wor.ld-search" is routinely done for the control of agricultural and aquatic plant pest species. Furthermore, guidelines for introductions of this type are currently in place for mosquito control agencies within Florida.

We intend to make this column a forum for ideas, and a clearing house for information to help us determine solid biological control methods for mosquitoes. The state of the art being what it is. the field is open and challenging. One thing is certain "Even a mosquito doesn't get a slap on the back until it gets working!"

The next installment of Nature's Way w ill deal with predacious mosquitoes of the world. We would like to solicit help from our readers for information on mosquitoes which have been im­plicated as predators of mosquito larvae. Aedes (Mucidus), Armigeres, Culex (Lutzia), Eretmapodites, Psorophora, Sabethes, Toxorhynchites. Zeugnomyia and perhaps others. Any and all contributions on this or any other areas of biological control will be welcomed and appreciated.

J. David Miller is the Ento­mologist for the Jacksonville, Florida Mosquito Control Program. He can be reached at 1321 Eastport Road, Jackson­ville, FL 32218-2297, tele­phone 904-757-0413.

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505 Brimhall Avenue P.O. Box 519 Long Lake. Minnesota 55356 USA Telephone: 612/473-6499 Fax: 612/473-5302 Hot Line: 1-800/448-8525

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Quality IS Econo01y U.S. DISTRIBUTORS

ADAPCO. INC. 1555 Howell Branch Rd .• Ste. B I Win!er Park. FL 32789 Phone 407·644-6292

8 & G CHEMICAL & EQUIPMENT CO .. INC P. 0 . Box 540428 Dallas. TX 75354 PhOne 214-357-5741

CLARKE MOSQUITO CONTROL PRODUCTS P. 0 . Box 72288 Roselle. IL 60172 Pnone 312·894·2000

RELIABLE LABS 8060 T ellord Way Sandy. UT 84092 Phone 801·942-1 685

NORTHEAST VECTOR MANAGEMENT. INC. P. 0 . Box 754 Freehold , NJ 07728 PhOne 201·431·9563

ZANUS CORPORATION 1259 El Cammo Real Sui te 134 Mento rark. CA 94025 Phone 415·591-7783

CORNBEL T CHEMICAL COMPANY

P.O. Box 410 McCook. NE 6900 I Phone 308-345·5057

INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS

ENVIAOTECH INTERNATIONAL P 0 . Box 8489 Delh1 110052 · INDIA

KEM·SAN, INC. P 0 Box 727 Oakville. Onlarlo L6J SCI CANADA

LABORATORI EMIUANI INDUSTRIA CHI MICA AFFINI V1a APPenn10o 457 47100 Forli ·ITALY

ADAPCO. INC. 1555 Howell Branch Rd. Sle. 81 Win1er Park. FL 32789 (Lalln America)

C . RUOOUCK PTY L TO 93 Howard Slraet Nonn Meloourne 305 f • AUSTRALIA

SYARIKAT PERNIAGAAN M.S ., SON. BHO. Lol 4·3. Komplek Udarama OFF Jalan lpoh . 50350 Kuala Lumpur WEST MALAYSIA

WELLCOME ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Ravens Lane Berkhamsled. Hens HP4 20Y UNITED KINGDOM

LOWNDES ENGINEERING CO. , ~NC. 125 BLANCHARD ST. I P.O. BOX 488 VALDOSTA, GEORGIA 31 601

PHONE (912) 242·3361 TWX 810·786·5861 CABLE· LECO VALO

FAX (912) 242·8763

Mosquito control that keeps peace with

people and the environment.

Today Mosquito Control Professionals must be public relations specialists and ecologists along with their other skills.

Science and Industry are providing more tools and concepts while the public and government are asking more questions. You have to be sharp to be a career mosquito professional. We salute and support your dedication.

Responsible mosquito control requires environmentally sensitive applicators and selective insecticides. The mosquito control industry traditionally provides careful needed application. American Cyanamid, in turn, proudly supplies and supports your efforts.

You can continue to rely on CYTHION® ULV and ABATE® for your mosquito control IP-M programs. They are tough on mosquitoes, but gentle to the environ­ment. Continue to use them wisely.

THE WORLD NEEDS

~;na~:~~:a~~a~;a~ of Amerean MOSQUITO CONTROL™ WING BEATS Flonda Medical Entomology Laboratory 200 9th Street S.E. Vero Beach, FL 32962

BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE

PAID TAUAHASSEE, FL PERMIT NO. 296