of the Florida Mosquito Control Association {/

Volume 12, Number 3/4 An Official Publication of the Fall/Winter 2001

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.... ~·" "" w.noridamO>quiro.org "" w.mosqUilo.org

Volume 12, Number 3/4

of the Florida Mosquito Control Association

, FalVWinter 2001

Faces: Pioneers in Mosquito Control: Leland Ossian Howard, An American Original........ ....... ............ 5 by~P~

Feature: Nesting, Migration Cycles, and Mosquitoes in an Eastern Equine Encephalitis Region ... ......... ....... ............. . 10 by L14a. 7t!:ed, 'U'~. ~. euut. "7~ if?~

Education: Mosquito Day with the AMCA! !. ......... ...... .............. . 13 by Zlua4 rt. ~ On the Books: Are We Safeguarding the Health of Children in the Nation's Public School System?................... 22 by ~ 'U'~HUUe

Chemline: Preliminary Studies of Malathion Susceptibility in Culex pipiens Mosquitoes .......... ..... .......... ............................ 27 by il:?a«<b; ~u & s~ '?~

Viewpoint: If It Looks Too Good to Be True .................... ... ....... 34 by Petetr- ~. ~

Robinson Honored by Pasco County MCD .... ...... ......... ........... 36 by Z'~ 'U'a44fflU

Leading Edge: Strategies to Consider When Establishing or Refining Educational Programs for Schools ........... .. .. .. ........ 38 by 1ted'U'~

About the Cover: Photographs of Culex n igripa/pus (top, mal e and bottom, female) taken by James Newman of the Florida Medical Entomology Labora­tory , University of Florida-IFAS.

1t-'~ I!S'ea.U: An official publicmkm of the Am~ricao Mosquito Control Associarion. published quarterly by the Flor·ida :\iosquil(} Control Associarioo. This magalinc 1s inrendcd ro k~ep all interc>ted parries informed on matters as they relare ro mosquito comrol. All righrs re!cncd Reproducrion, in whole or t>nrt. for educational purposes is pemlhted, w1rhour permission. with proper cirorion. Tile F'MCA and rhe AMC1\ lmve not tesrt.-d nny of the product~ advenised or referred to in this publicarion. nor bnve they venlil!(l any of the <tnrcments made in :my of rhe adveru.e­ment> or arricles. The FMCA and tl1e 1\,'vlCA do not wamrnr. expressly or implied. the fitn~ of ~ny producr adve11ised or rho 'uitability of any advice or srarcmenL'> conraincd herein, Opinions exr>rcsscd in rhi~ publicarion are not necessarily rhe opimon.' or polic•c• of rhe FMCA or rhe AMCA.

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Corresvondence: Addre~\ nil corre>pondencc regarding 1<1~ iS'ea.U to the Ediror-in-Chicf. Dennis M oore. PO Box 60005. rorr M)er>. FL. 33906. Reade" arc invited ro ' ubmn anicles r-clnrcd to mosquno and biting Oy biolol).y and conrrol. or Ierum: ro the Editors. to the &Jiror-in-Ch1ef. TI1ere is no chnrge if your aniclto or lencr is prinred . Phorographe~ Mtl anisL~ are mvrtt.ld to >Ubmit color lrdnsparencie.~. htgh qualiry originnl n11work or artwork in cl~ctronic formm for possible U'C in the maga7joe or on the cover; $100 will be paid for cnchcover photo. Businesses nrc invited to place nd\'ertisemcnrs rhrough the Edirllr-i n-Chief.

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Pioneers in Mosquito Control Leland Ossian Howard: An American Original

by ~p~

Introduction No American did more at the

beginning of the twentieth century to raise the standing of entomology in general and research on the biology and control of mosquitoes in particular than Leland Ossian Howard. Howard's career as an entomologist and public servant in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) spanned more than half a century. His intelligence, discipline, and dedication to public service contributed much to shaping both the character of American entomology and the recognition of the importance of mosquito control in modern life.

Early Life Serendipity led Howard to

entomology. If it had not been for his father's untimely death in 1873, Howard would probably have followed his father's wishes and pursued a career in law. Instead, the sixteen-year-old chose civil engineering as his major when he enrolled in Cornell University. Howard, however, was not fated to be an engineer. "Differential calcu­lus," he later mused, "was too much for me."1 He decided to change his major to natural history since he had always been interested in nature. Childhood gifts from his parents of books on butterfly collecting and harmful insects had sparked his passion for collecting moths and butterflies.2

A few weeks before entering Cornell , Howard's passion for butterflies led to a chance encounter that was to have momentous con­sequences for his future. In the midst of his pursuit of a magnificent

Huntera butterfly, Howard found his path blocked by another collector. As he recalled the story, a "strange young man walked up and said to me, 'C-c-catching insects?' [Howard] replied affirmatively, and he said, 'M­m-my name is Comstock, and I t+ teach entomology in the college. C-c-come and see me."3

L. 0. Howard (1857-1950)

Mallis, Arnold. American Entomologists. Rutgers University Press, New

Brunswick, NJ 1971. 549pp.

The slender, stuttering entomo­logy professor was John Henry Comstock. Comstock, eight years Howard's senior, had only just begun his teaching career. During the next three decades Comstock played a central role in educating a new generation of un iversity-trained entomologists. In 187 4 he was on the lookout for bright, hard working

students. During the next four years Comstock introduced Howard to the intricacies of ento­mology. Despite profound differ­ences in their personalities, Comstock and Howard became lifelong friends and colleagues.

In 1877 Howard received his baccalaureate degree. He told his mother he wanted to pursue graduate work in natural history. The elder Howard listened with horror as her son confided his desire to dedicate his life to insects. It had been a disappoint-ment when Howard had decided not to become a lawyer. Engineering had been an accep-table alternative. But entomology was out of the question! In desperation, Mrs. Howard sought counsel from her late husband's associates. They were adamant: natural history and entomology were unac-ceptable careers for a young man . Mrs. Howard's confidants warned that Leland would be throwing away his future if he pursued his passion for insects. "They all said," Howard later wrote, "that I would never be rich and that they doubted that I would ever be able to marry and live comfortably."

Entomology Becomes Respectable

These dire predictions were not unfounded. Historically, ento­mology and entomologists were not respected by both the general public and th e scienti f ic community. With the exception of a handful of pioneers such as Ray and Reaumur in the eighteenth century, only a few scientists

'UI~ g>ea.u Faii/Winlcr 200 I 5

devoted themselves to the serious disease. Patrick Manson's dis-study of insects prior to the second covery in the 1870s that mosquitoes half of the nineteenth century. In the transmitted filariasis opened a

received the Noble Prize for his discovery.

Howard's Career 1700s collec ting insects was period of groundbreaking dis-considered by many a sign of coveries. In 1880 Laveran identified Howard launched his career as an incipient madness. In one famous the parasite that caused malaria. entomologist in this context. In 1878, case, the relatives of a wealthy Four years later Ettore Marchiafava Charles Valentine Ri ley, Missouri's deceased English noble-woman and Angelo Celli confirmed state entomologist, succeeded contested her will on the grounds Laveran's discovery. They named Townsend Glover as head of the of ''lunacy" based solely on the fact the parasite Plasmodium mafariae. newly formed ento-mological service that she collected insects.5 Simultaneously, Camillo Golgi dis- within the USDA. Riley asked John

Entomology's standing did not covered that the parasite divided at Comstock to accept a temporary improve until later in the nineteenth regular intervals and that this split- assignment as the entomological century. At best, studying insects ting process coincided with attacks service's field agent in the South. In was the occasional pastime of of fever. June 1878, Comstock stopped in farmers, physicians, amateur It remained for the Englishman w ashington for final instructions from collectors, and eccentrics. En to· Ronald Ross to bring the different Riley. Riley inquired if Comstock"had mology was certainly not the career parts of the puzzle together. In at Cornell an advanced student of most middle class families would 1894, Ross, on furlough in England good appearance, fairly good have chosen for their children. "In from his post in the Indian Medical manners and ability, who would the minds of most men:' the authors Service , visited Manson's come to Washington as his of a pioneering entomological study laboratory. Manson speculated that assistant."7 Comstock lamented in 1816, "the learned as mos-quitoes might play a part in recommended Howard. Riley wrote well as the vulgar, the idea of the Plasmodium's transmission. Ross to Howard and offered him a position trifling nature of his pursuit is so returned to India, microscope in as an assistant entomologist at the strongly associated with the dimin- hand, and set to work. In 1898 he sala ry of 1 oo doll ars a month. utive size of its objects, that an proved conclus ive ly that mos- Howard accepted. entomologist is synonymous with quitoes were responsible for Politics has always played a everything futile and childish."6 transmitting malaria. In 1902, Ross central role in Washington. Within

The public's opinion of less than a year, Riley resigned as entomology underwent a revolution Head of the entomological service. in the late 1800s. During Howard's ---------------,The USDA Commissioner asked childhood new insect perils Milestones in Howard's John Comstock to take his place. emerged which threatened Life and Career During the next two years Comstock American agriculture. In the 1860s led the fledgling program with an and early 1870s grapevine 1857 Born in Rockford, Illinois annual budget of $10,000. 8 At that Phylloxera swept th rough t~e 1874 Met John Henry Comstock time the entomological service was country's vineyards. In the m1d- 1877 Received Baccalaureate degree located "in two rooms on the second 1870s Rocky Mountain locusts from Cornell floor of the Department of destroyed millions of dollars of 1878 Joined the USDA's entomological Agriculture building.''!} In 1881 a new western crops. Following that, new service under Charles Valentine president arrived in Washington. perils emerged, such as the San Riley Garfield's Commis-sioner of Jose scale in 1892 in the eastern 1894 Appointed Head of USDA's agriculture "was overwhelmed with part of the United States and the Bureau of Entomology petitions to re-instate Riley."10

Mexican Boll Weevil in 1894 that 1901 Published Mosquitoes: How They Comstock resumed his teaching threatened the entire southern Live; How They carry Disease: career at Cornell. Howard was cotton crop. How They are Classified; How surprised that he was allowed to

They may be Destroyed keep his USDA position. Riley Medical Entomology Arises 1912 Published (with Harrison Dyar directed the entomological service

Developments in medical and Frederick Knab) until Howard succeeded him in 1894. entomology were even more Mosquitoes of North and Central Howard did much to define the startling. Howard joined the USDA's America and the West Indies, vol. 1 character of American entomology entomological service at the 1927 Stepped down as administrative during the next forty years. Nowhere moment when researchers were on head of the Bureau of Entomology is this more clearly shown than in the verge of discovering the role 1931 Retired as principal entomologist Howard's pioneering work in the mosquitoes played in transmitting study of mosquitoes. As a school-

6 Fall/Winter 2001

boy in 1867, Howard had chanced to put a few drops of kerosene in a bucket of water containing mosquito larvae. He discovered that the kerosene killed all the larvae. Nothing, however, came of this discovery until the early 1890s.

Two things conspired to focus Howard's attention on mosquitoes. Periodically, the entomological service received inquires from individuals who were troubled by mosquitoes. One of Howard's duties was keeping track of these complaints. Mosquitoes, however, ceased to be a theoretical problem when Howard decided to build a summer cottage in the Catskills in 1892. The mosquitoes were fero­cious! During a careful inspection of the property he discovered that there was a pool of water near the house. Howard recalled his boy­hood experiments with kerosene. He decided to pour kerosene on the pool. Both the mosquito larvae and "the female mosquitoes which alighted on the water to lay their eggs" were killed. Howard reported his findings at the Buffalo Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His findings were later published in Insect Life. 11

Howard's interest in mosquitoes intensified after he became head of the entomological service in 1894. He concentrated his work on a

handful of mosquito species that included Anopheles quadrima­culatus. Initially, Howard resisted the theory that mosquitoes were responsible for spreading malaria. He recalled with considerable chagrin being approached by A. F. King, a Washington physician, who had written an "extraordinary paper" in 1883 that "provided an extended argument that malaria was carried by mosquitoes."12 Riley and Howard had scoffed at the paper. "To my eternal shame," he later wrote, "I confess that we both pooh-poohed the idea."13 Fifteen years later, Howard was one of the first Americans to embrace Ross 's discovery. Under his direction the USDA's Bureau of Entomology issued a special bulletin describing Ross's findings. Simultaneously, Howard published a detailed des­cription of the life history of malarial mosquitoes in Scienufic American. 14

Mosq uitoes as Vectors Medical entomology came of age

during the next three years. Ross's discovery sparked new interest in mosquitoes. The United States' entry into the Spanish American War raised concerns about insect-borne diseases. General Sternberg, the Army's Surgeon General, solicited Howard's advice. The danger of a yellow fever outbreak in Cuba at the end of the United States'

Caribbean adventure drew Howard into frequent discussions with a young medical officer named Walter Reed . Reed was in constant communication with Howard during this period. Years earlier, Dr. Carlos Finlay had argued that mosquitoes were responsible for transmitting yellow fever. Howard encouraged Reed to pursue Finlay's hypothesis.

In 1901 the findings of the Reed Commission were released. Reed and his colleagues demonstrated conclusively that the Aedes aegyptl mosquito was the vector of yellow fever. Simultaneously, Howard pub­lished his classic work on mosquito control: Mosquitoes: How They Live; How they Carry Disease: How they are Classified; How they May be Destroyed. Reed and Howard's work is inseparable. The Reed Commission conclusively demon­strated that mosquitoes were the vector of yellow fever. Howard's was the first work by an American entomologist that offered a syste· matic strategy for developing an effective mosquito control program.

Later, Howard reflected that his mosquito book had appeared at the precisely the right "psychological moment:'15 The United States' pre­sence in Cuba and the newly acquired stake in Panama made controlling yellow fever and malaria a national priority. The Army's Surgeon General, George E_

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Sternberg, ordered that copies of Howard's book be issued to all members of the Army Medical Corps. Howard's guidelines on mosquito contro l served as the basis for anti-mosquito program in Havana. Later, General William Gorgas implemented Howard's recommendations in Panama.

At the centenary of its publication Mosquitoes: How They Live; How They Carry Disease: How They are Classified; How They may be Destroyed remains a fascinating work. The book's four sections pre­sent a largely anecdotal summary of mosquito ethology and ecology, pathology, taxonomy and control. Howard provided the first generation of professional mosquito control researchers - such as John Smith in New Jersey and William Herms in California - with a practical guide on which they could base their work.

During the next thirty years as head of USDA's Bureau of Entomology Howard faced many vexing questions. New insect threats continued to emerge. The reckless use of pesticides provoked a national concern over the safety of agricultural products. Under Howard's leadership, the USDA developed regulations governing the use of insecticides. Despite his many responsibilities, Howard continued to actively contribute to the study of mosquitoes. He recognized the need for a multi­volume study of the mosquitoes in the western hemisphere. In 1912, the first volume of Howard, Dyar, and Knab 's multi-volume Mosquitoes of North and Central America and the West Indies was published.

Today the once widespread prejudice against entomology and entomologists has vanished. Leland Ossian Howard did much to remedy this. "Until recently," L. 0. Howard wrote shortly before his death , "many men were ashamed to let their friends know that they were studying insects and making collections."16 Howard noted an instance of this in one of his last

8 Fall/Winter 2001

works. " I remember," he observed, ' that once many years ago a group of us were standing at luncheon time under the trees behind the building of the old Department of Agriculture in Washington when a tall, rather extraordinary looking individual with pompadour hair and a strange two pointed beard and not too careful dress (although per-fectly neat) came out of an adjoining building.

•uwho is that?' asked one of the bystanders.

'"Oh, that's just one of Howard's entomological freaks,' replied one of the group."17

In retrospect it is clear that these "entomological freaks" worked a revolution . They protected the nation's farms against insect pests, they waged war against diseases that had long plagued humankind, and they opened new under­standing of the complex web of living beings that surround us. If American entomologists and mos-quito control workers are honored today and respected for their scientific prowess and practical accomplishments, it is because they stand on the shoulders of giants like Leland Ossian Howard.

Endnotes 1 L.O. Howard, Fighting Insects:

The Story of an Entomologist, New York, 1933, 4.

2 Arnold Mallis, American Entomologists, New Brunswick, 1971 , 80.

3 Howard, Fighting Insects, 5. 4 Howard, Fighting Insects, 14. s William Kirby and William

Spence, An Introduction to Entomology or Elements of the Natural History of Insects, 2nd ed., vol. 1, London, 1816, xviii-xix

8 Kirby and Spence, An Introduction to Entomology, v.

7 Howard, Fighting Insects, 14. 8 lbid, 167. 9 L.O. Howard, A History of

Applied Entomology (Somewhat Anecdotal), Smithsonian Institution, Publication 3065, Washington, 1930, 84.

10 Ibid. 58-59.

11 Howard, Fighting Insects, 117. 12 L.O. Howard, "A Fifty-Year

Sketch-History of Medical Entomology," Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution 1921, Washington, 1922, 566.

13 Mallis, American Entomologists, 84.

14 Ibid, 118. 1s Howard, Fighting Insects, 119. 16 Howard, Fighting Insects, vi. 17 Ibid.

Dr. Gordon Patterson Professor of Humanities

Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FL 32901

321-674-7382 321-674-8109 FAX patterson @fit.edu

, j From the ,~' 11/4' Editor-in-Chief ~~ L. '!)~~ ·..__

We are looking for interesting technical or field- related articles about mosquitoes, mosqui to control and related topics. The articles do not h ave to b e "scientific" in nature and arc not too long - usually a page or two (800 - 1,600 words).

Forward articles and graphics to our Managing FAiitor:

Tom Floore PHEREC 4000 Ft·ankford Avenue Panama City,FL 32405-1933 Tel: (850) 872-4184, ext. 30 Fax: (850 )872-4733

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Nesting, Migration Cycles, and Mosquitoes in an Eastern Equine EncephaUtis Region

by ~144 ~eed, Waepu ~, tM«t 7~ /li!abeetf

Eastern equine encephalo­myelitis (EEE) virus cycles through avian (host) and mosquito (vector) populations in New Jersey virtually every year. Typically, the virus reappears in previously infected birds during periods of stress such as in migration or breeding. The obligate avian feeder, Culiseta me/anura, acquires the virus from infected adult birds early in the summer and passes it on to non­immune nestlings. Viral amplifica­tion results as the virus is passed between the infected and non­infected portions of the populations, and the number of viral particles multiplies. Dead-end hosts, such as horses and humans, acquire the virus and resulting disease when viral load becomes high enough to involve bridge vectors (Scott and Edman 1991).

However, more is required than mere participation in this trans­mission cycle to ensure bridge

Fig. 1. High Point mist net setup

1 0 Fall/Winter 2001 WUt9 a'ea.u

vector activity and subsequent horse and human involvement. In New Jersey, there are enough available vectors and hosts to suggest that EEE should be occurring throughout the state, yet only portions of the state show consistent annual EEE activity. This suggests that another element is important in the cycle and our research points toward the critical element being time. How long all participants are present together in an area may determine the amount of amplification of EEE virus that occurs, i.e., the accessibility of hosts to vectors in time and space (Scott 1988). The dispersion of one or more vectors or hosts from the area shortens the time that the amplifying participants remain in each other's presence. We've investigated the extent to which participants (birds and mosquitoes) are present together in a southern (focus) and a northern (non-focus) county in New Jersey.

WhatWe Did Passerine birds were caught in mist nets at High Point State Park in northern New Jersey (Figure 1 ), and the presence of Hatch-Year (HY) birds was compared with historical bird­banding records from southern New Jersey as well as Cs. me/anura presence at both sites. Historical banding records were from data collected by the Cape May Mosquito Commis-sion for Wayne Crans using mist nets run during the spring, summer, and fall from 1980 to 1984 at Jake's Landing, Dennisville, Cape May County of southern New Jersey. Caught birds were identified to species, age, and sex, banded, and released. Cs. me/anura popula-

f I ..),

I I

l /

~ cape May

Fig. 2. Cape May Peninsula

tions have been monitored annually as part of the state's EEE monitor program through resting boxes catches. Historical records of Cs. me/anura patterns from the previous 20 years were examined by T. Rainey.

The northern site was located at Kuser Natural Area in High Point State Park in Sussex County, NJ. Eight to 12 Japanese mist nets were run from 02 July 1998 to 04 October 1998. As at Cape May, birds caught were identified to species, age, and sex, if possible, and then banded and released immediately. T. Rainey monitored adult mosquito populations through resting boxes.

What we found Despite a rich and varied

environment, far fewer bird species (22) were caught at High Point than at Dennisville on Cape May (67) (see Table 1, p. 18). However, birds had been captured at Dennisville for a period of 4

years versus only 1 .5 years at High Point, making the presence of more species more likely. In addition, the geomorphology of the terrain probably played a role. The Cape May peninsula funnels a great number of migrants through a small area, concentrating their numbers and making it all the more likely to show a wider diversity of species (Sibley 1992, Figure 2).

The mosquitoes that most readily replicate EEE virus are more likely to occur in the southern site than the northern one. Culiseta me/anura adults were not a s persistent at High Point as at the more southerly Dennisville. By the end of September in High Point, adults disappeared from resting boxes, while in Dennisville, adults were found on average some two to three weeks later and well into October (Figure 3).

In fact, mosquitoes were often found in resting boxes at the end of the normal surveillance period in Dennisville into November. Thus, mosquitoes were present at the

southern site for a longer period of time than at the northern site. In addition, evidence suggests that a second emergence of nulliparous females occurs at Dennisville, but not at High Point. While both sites appear to have nulliparous females present throughout the season, life table data from heat summation models supports a second emergence model at Dennisville (Mahmood and Crans 1998). Therefore, not only were mosqui­toes in the south present for longer periods of time, but the population also experienced periodic infusions of fresh females throughout the season.

HY birds are noteworthy in the amplification of virus due to their lack of anti-mosquito behaviors, possible preference by avian­seeking mosquitoes, and their role as unchallenged hosts of the virus (Scott 1988). At High Point, the proportion of HY birds decreased earlier and more dramatically than at Dennisville (Figure 3}.

Mortality and differential age

~----------------------------------------~ migration

1.0

E o.s i t:3 o.s d) >,

~ 0.4 ; l: f- 0.2

0.0 IIi yb Pnilrt Ocnlli::willc

'\ .I ' . 1:::=:! 4 o 6 7 B 9 10 11

Month

Fig. 3. Hatch-year birds and Culiseta mosquito populations in NJ. Arrows in the lower right indicate when mosquitoes are no longer caught in resting boxes. In DeonisviJle, the shaded area indicates the longer time periods when mosquitoes have continued to be caught over the years.

m i g h t account for the de­crease and t h e n increase in the per­centage of HY birds observed at both sites.

Some spec i es partition the timing of migration among age classes or migration pathways (Stewart, Mewaldt , and Kaiser 1974) or both (King, Far.ner and

Mewaldt 1965). Regardless of the mechanism and although the timing of departure was similar, the proportion of HY birds leaving High Point was much greater than at Dennisville.

The conjunction of all parti­cipants in space and time (Scott and Edman 1991) is one compo­nent that affects successful amplification and passage of encephalomyelitis virus through bridge vectors to dead-end hosts. But, if a potential host is not present in large enough numbers, nor for a long enough period of time, then the role of that host is significantly reduced . HY birds and Cs. me/anura mosquitoes are both present at High Point and Dennisville, but their exposure to each other comes to an end sooner at High Point where both participants leave early. In Dennisville, however, both long­term exposure between birds and mosquitoes plus a multivoltine mosquito population increase their conjunction and thus, the potential incidence of EEE.

Literature Cited Crans, W. J., D. F. Caccamise

and J. R. McNelly. 1994. "Eastern equine encephalo­myelitis virus in relation to the avian community of a coastal cedar swamp," J. Med. Ent. , 31 (5) : 711-728.

King, J. R., D. S. Farner, and L. R. Mewaldt. 1965. "Seasonal sex and age ratios in populations of the White-crowned Sparrows of the race Gambelii," Condor67: 489-504.

Mahmood, F. and W. J. Crans. 1998. "Effects of temperature on the development of Cu/iseta me/anura (Diptera: Culicidae) and its impact on the amplification of eastern equine encephalimyelitis virus in birds." J. Med. Entomol. 35(6): 1007-1012

continued on page 18

'U'Ue<J S'eaa Fall/Winter 2001 1 l

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AMI A Mosquito Day ~ith the

-1• \I'[ i-'1 ' ' - 1 "-II ' , '' '

In the fall of 1997, Dan Ariaz (then president-elect of the AMCA) called me to say that the executive board would like the Public Rela­tions I Education Committee to hold an event in a local elementary school during the 1998 AMCA meet­ing. After holding this very special and successful event at Lincoln Park Elementary School in Sparks, NV, we realized the value of such ventures for both the local commu­nity and for the AMCA. The local school received a unique and effec­tive learning experience and the AMCA received extensive media at­tention, which in turn translates to support by the local community.

Since that time, the Public Edu­cation Committee has held 4 more events, one each at the annual meetings in St. Louis and Atlantic City, and two in Washington, D.C. during the AMCA legislative advo­cacy week. Experience has taught us a lot about the organization of these events and I'd like to share some of the things we have learned.

, Children learn very well from hands­on experience and remember the conversations they bave one-on-one with profes ionals, so this may be the most va luable learning experience you can offer.

Ll is unusual and u11ique, so the school administration appreciates its appeaL

Fina lly, the Touch Table is also the most visual component, both in terms of subjects and action, and wi ll draw photographers and TV cameras to your event.

' ~

AMCA!! by ~r/,~

What is "Mosquito Day with the AMCA"?

Now I'm sure that many of you have successfully held assemblies, manned booths at local fairs and carnivals and given pro­grams to spe­cial interest groups . These are dif­ferent from a " Mosquito Day'' pro­gram, in that they usually consist of just one element. In contrast , our event con­sists of four components:

What do you need? There are some very basic re­

sources that you will need to hold a Mosquito Day event:

Fig. 1. Children at the "Touch Table" 1. Two as-~--------------------------------------~ semblies, held for the entire student body to cover basic mosquito biol­ogy and control facts 2. Individual classroom visits by AMCA volunteers from around the country 3. A display, or "Touch Table" where students can handle equipment, look at insect collections, play games and interact one-on-one with AMCA volunteers 4. A poster contest with two $50.00 savings bonds as prizes for stu­dents who come up with the best mosquito control-related poster

If you would like to plan an event on a local level , you may want to choose 2 or 3 of these components to focus on, but I would suggest that you at least try a "Touch Table" (Fig­ure 1) tor several reasons:

1. The full support of the local mos­quito control or health department district and their commitment to pro­vide assistance. 2. An Event Coordinator with en­ergy, imagination, a flexible sched­ule and the devotion necessary to miss many of the other meetings and events during a national or re­gional meeting. 3. Lots and lots of generaLIS and enthusiastic volunteers 4. Displays, games, activities and simple "gifts" for the children (stick­ers, coloring sheets, pencils, Post­It notes for insect stamps, etc.)

Getting Started! This is probably the scariest part

of your project, because it is now

'U'u,9- 2?eat4. Fall/Winter 200 I 13

that you realize just how much work you have ahead of you. You have to evaluate your resources, decide if you have enough to make the event work, and make your own commitment to its success. Here are some guidelines for getting started:

A. Send out "feelers"

1. Contact the local mosquito con­trol or health department and get a commitment for help 2. Get on the phone to see how many potential volunteers you can persuade to help; get a rough esti­mate of how many people you can count on. You will need people for speakers, Touch Table assistants, gofers, set-up and tear down, etc. 3. Get an idea of what your volun­teers can loan or contribute for the Touch Table 4. Find a receptive school- get help from the local mosquito control agency. The best school will

a) be close to the meeting site or easily accessible

b) have a friendly, helpful school administration and staff

c) be willing to change the regu­lar schedule for your special event

d) be willing to "advertise" or at least allow the media to attend

B. If you have enough support from everyone, make the event official. 1. Set a date and time that works best for everyone involved. Take the following into account:

a) For national or regional meetings, do not plan on the first day of the conference or the week. You will need that day for meeting with the school , contacting every­one, collecting resources, and last minute arrangements.

b) Tuesdays and Wednesdays are good days for events. The kids will have the rest of the week to work on your theme and you are still in town for local contacts and the school . 2. Send an announcement and short description of the event to the local school , the volunteers and the

14 FalVWinter 2001

local agency. Don't send details yet -you'll overwhelm them.

Resources

There are many things that you will need to accomplish your goal :

A. Resources you would like from the school:

1. A large area (cafeteria) for the two 30-minute assemblies -remember to plan well after breakfast and before lunch 2. A separate large area dedicated to the Touch Table presentation; it should be available the evening be­fore and the entire day of the event (e.g. , the gymnasium or library -preferably on first floor). If the weather is nice, you can do this outside with more games (call it a "Mosquito Field Day"). 3. 5-7 large tables for the Touch Table 4. AV equipment for assemblies and classroom visits (you need to get requirements from speakers and schedule the equipment ahead of time) 5 . Access to teacher's lounge or other area where volunteers can take breaks or eat lunch 6. Transportation to and from hotel (you may need help from the local mosquito control agency) 7. Video services to tape and edit your event (you may need help from the local mosquito control agency)

B. Resources you need from vol­unteers:

1. Their time 2. Someone to be Touch Table Supervisor if the event is big 3 . Specimens and magnifying glasses 4 . Cool equipment (aspirators, insect nets, big boots, etc.) 5. Games 6. Give-aways - coloring sheets, pencils, stickers 7. Stamps and non-toxic ink and Post-it notes 8. Someone with a digital camera to record at least part of the event

C. Resources you need from the local mosquito control agency: 1. People and their time 2. Transportation if not provided by school 3. Video service if not provided by school 4. Contacts for local media and help with promotion of the event 5. Pick-up of posters, judging post­ers and presentation of awards

D. Resources you need from your association:

1. Money for $50.00 savings bonds (poster awards) 2. Support of the Executive Board and appearance of at least one of them (preferably the president and preferably while the media is around) at the event. 3. Funding for something special for the volunteers (like coffee and donuts and delivery of lunch!) 4. Assistance with promotion of the event (web-page, announce­ments in publications, etc.)

Scheduling This has always been my biggest

headache, because there are so many people and other factors in­volved. But experience helps, so I'll pass along these gems to you.

A. Volunteer shifts- Try to give your volunteers their preference for time and grade level, if they are visiting classrooms B. Two assemblies held by the or­ganizer. You need at least 30 min­utes for each, and they should be early in the morning before the rest of your event. Remember that the janitorial staff will need time to clean the cafeteria after breakfast and before lunch. C. Classroom visits- schedule 45 minutes each D. Transportation to and from hotel for national or regional meetings. E. Touch Table Visits- schedule 20 minutes per session with 1 0 minutes between sessions

1 . The school needs to take care of scheduling classes, but you need to push them. Most principals post a sign-up sheet for the teachers to fill in. 2. Limit the number of classes vis­iting the Touch Table at one time. Two classes per 20-minute session is optimal. 3. Teachers and aids must stay with the class. F. Pre-event meetings with volun­teers (during the committee meet­ing) and school officials (the day before the event)

Promoting the Event Check school rules for video­

taping children, as some require signed permission from guardians. Make it clear to school officials that you want to go to the media with the event. The school is often very willing and may want to help with PR. Steps you should take include: A. Prepare a press release -involve the local mosquito control agency and get them to find and start contacts for you. Emphasize

the Touch Table or Field Day - it's unusual and very visual for photos or TV. If there is a potential disease threat, mention it and emphasize that you are helping the local community through education and awareness. B. Try to have an Executive Board member there when you think the media will be there. C. Have press releases ready and send them out 2 weeks in advance - follow up with calls. D. Make sure there is a local con­tact on your press release also. E. Call those interested one week in advance and stay in touch while you are in town. F. Try to get on a local TV morning news or talk show the day before the event. In Virginia Beach, they tend to plan their guests about 1 month in advance, so you will have to start planning this a little earlier. G. You could also call the local news I talk radio station. They are usually looking for fillers and can record a very quick phone inter­view.

Event Coordinator's Task List If you can , give yourself 2

months to arrange everything and hold the event. Here are some of your tasks, probably in the order that you will tackle them (some are on-going):

A. Contact the local mosquito con­trol agency and get their support and commitment to help. B. Start calling potential volunteers and keep a list of those who are interested. C. When you think you have enough volunteers, have the local mosquito control agency find a good school and make an initial contact with the principal and science teachers. D. Follow this contact by calling the school and giving more details. Make the school 's commitment solid. E. Set a date for the event and let the local mosquito control agency, the school and your volunteers know.

continued on page 26

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continued from page 11

Scott, T. W. 1988. "Vertebrate mosquito attraction and blood- Stewart, R. M., L. R. Mewaldt, host ecology,'' in The feeding ," In Bird-Parasite and S. Kaiser. 1974. "Age ratios of arboviruses:epidemiology and Interactions (J. E. Loye and M. Zuk, coastal and inland fall migrant pas-ecology. (T.P. Monath, ed.}. CRC eds). New York: Oxford University serines in central California," J. Press: Boca Raton, Florida. Press. Field Ornith. 45:46-47.

Scott, T.W. and J.D. Edman. Sibley, D. 1992. The Birds of 1991 . "Effects of avian host age Cape May. New Jersey Audubon So-and arbovirus infection on ciety: Cape May Bird Observatory.

Table 1. Avian species rrust-netted at two si tes in New Jersey. Data from Dennjsville (located in the southern end of the state) represents 4 years of mist-netting whi le High Point is in the north and its data represents one summer and fall of mist-netting.

u t:r s; liP High Po1nt ::;taf•J •

Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax vil'f!scens) SR

American Goldfinch (C arriuelis trist-is) PR

American Redstart (Setophagus m ticil/a) American Redstart SR

American R obin (Tun/us migrarorius) American Ro.bin SR

American Woodcock (Philohe la minor~ M/WR

Bam Swallow (Hinmdo mstica) M/SR

Black-and- White Warbler (/vfniotilta varia) Black-and-W hite Warbler SR

Black-capped Chickadee (Poeci/e atricapillus) Black-capped Chickadee PR

Black-throated Blue Warbler (Den droica caemlescens) Black-throated Blue Warbler MIWR

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Blue Jay PM

Blue-winged Warbler (Vern1 ivora pinus) SR

Brown Creeper (Certh ia americana) PM

Brown Thrasher (Toxostom a longirostl'f!) SR

Brown-headed Cowbird (/vfoloth nJs ater) PM

Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis) Canada Warbler M

Cape May Warbler (Dendroica tigrina) WR/M

Carolina C hickadee (Poecile carolin en sis) PR

Carolina W ren (Thryotho nls lud o v icianus) PR

Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dendroica pennsylvan ica) M

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) PM

Common Yellowtbroat (Geo thlypis tr ichas) SR

Cooper's Hawk (Acc iptel' cooperii) MG

Downy Woodpecker (Picoid es p ubescens) PR

Eastern K ingbird (Tyrannus ry.ra nnus) M/SR

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythroph thalmus) Eastern Towhee SR

Eastern Tufted Titmouse (Ba eolophus b ico lor) PR

Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus vinms) SR

Field Sparrow (Spizella p usilla) M/WR

Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) Golden-crowned K inglet M/WR

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) SR

Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus m inimus) M

Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) SR

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides v illosus) PR

Hermit Thrush (Cathams g uttatus) Hermit Thrush MG

Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina) MG/SR

House Finch (C arpodacus m exican us) PR

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon ) SR

18 Fall/Winter 200 l

Table I . Avian s pecies mi st-netted in New Jersey (cont.)

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) SR

Kentucky Warbler (0 porornis formos us) M / SR

Louisiana Waterthrush (Seiurus motactlla) M /SR

Magnolia Wa rbler (Dendroica m agno!ta) M

M y rtle Warbler (Dendrot ca co rona fa ) WR

Nas hville Warble r (Venn tv o ra rufic apilla) M

N ortbern Bobwhite (Colin us virginanus) PR

N ortbern Cardinal (C a rd ina/is ca rdinalis ) PR

Northe rn W at~rthrush (Se iur us novebo ra censis) Northern Waterthrush M I S R

0 venbird (Seiurus aurocap i/lus) 0 venbird SR

Pabn Warb le r (Dendrotca palm arum) M /W R

Pine Warbler (De ndroica pinu.s") SR /M

Prairie Warbler (Dendrot ca discolor) SR

P rothonotary Wa rbler (Protono tar·ia citrea) S R

Red- breasted Nu thatc h (Stlla ca nadensis) WR

Red-eyed Vireo (V treo olivaceus) SR

Red-winged Blackbird (A gela ius pho en ic e us ) PR

Ro se - breas ted Grosbea k (P h eucticus ludov icia nus) M

Rub y- crow ned King let (Reg ulu-s calendula) Rub y-c rowned Kinglet M / WR

Rub y-throate d Hummingbird (A rc hilochus co lu b r is) SR

Savannah Sparrow (Passe rc u/us sandwtc hensis) M / W R

Sca rle t Tanager (P iranga olivacea) SR

Sharp-shinned Hawk (A cctpter s triatus ) S harp- shinned Hawk SR

Slate-co lored Junco (Jun co hye m a/is) S late-colored Junco M / W R

Song Spa rro w (Melospiza m elodta) PR IM

Swainso n's Thrush (C atharus ustulatus) S wainso n' s Thrush M /W R

Swamp Sparrow (M e lospiza georgiana) PR

Tennesee Warble r (Ver m ivora M IW R

pereg rina)

Veery (C atharus fus cesce ns) Ve ery SR

W bite - eyed Vireo (Vireo grise us) SR

W bite- throated Spa rrow (Zo n o tnchw albtco!lts) W bite-throated Sparrow M (W R

Willow Flycatcher (E mp idonax trail/d ) SR

Wilson's Warbler (Wilso nia pu s i/la) M

Winter Wren (Troglody t es troglodyt es) Winter Wren M / W R

Wood T hru s h (Hylocich/a m ust elma) Wood T hrush SR

Wo rm-eating Warbler (Helm it h eros verm ivorus) SR

Yellow Warble r (Dendroica pelechw ) SR

Ye llow-billed C uckoo (Caccyzu z americanus) SR

Ye llow-b reasted C l1at (l c t eria virens) SR/M

Ye llow-shafted Flicke r (Colaptes au rat us ) PM

Yellow-throated Warb le r (Dendroica dom intca) SR

1 . M = Mig rant; PM = Partia l Migrant~ PR = P erma nent Resid ent; SR =S ummer R esjdent; WR = Winter Re s ident. Partial migrant refers to two eq ually s trong strategies pre se nt in the area. (derived from C ra ns et al 1994 and S ib ley 1 9 9 2).

Lisa Reed and Wayne Crans are with The Mosquito Research and Control Unit, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Jersey USA 08901 and Tadhgh Rainey is with the Mosquito and Vector Control Program, Department of Health, Hunterdon County, New Jersey USA 08822

'U'~ i!?ea.U Fall/Winter 200 1 19

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Are We the Health of Children in the Nation's Public School System?

To hear the proponents of this legis­lation (National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the National Coalition Against Misuse of Pesticides/ Beyond (NCAMP) assert unequivocally to oppose this measure would appear otherwise. The legislation that I am referring to was sponsored by Senator RobertTorricelli (D-NJ), entitled Amend­ment #805 (The School Environment Protection Act of 2001 SEPA ) which was attached to President George W. Bush's Education bill in the United States Senate.

First of all. to refresh your memory, I shall provide you with recent past his­tory of this legislation. The amendment (SEPA) was originally sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) almost two years ago as a "stand alone" bill in­troduced into the United States Senate. Unfortunately, for Ms. Boxer and others, the bill languished in the Senate with­out obtaining any public hearing. Through a parliamentary procedure, she managed to attach SEPA to a De­partment of Defense (DOD) Appropria­tions bill during the 1 06111 Congress. Not only were DOD unhappy with the provi­sions of this bill, but also the American Mosquito Control Association. Together we informed the appropriate legislators about the intent of this legislation and what it would actually mean to safe­guarding the public health - whether it be on a military installation or within the Nation's public school system. Fortu­nately, with our friends at the Pentagon and our efforts the measure failed.

Fast forward to Calendar Year 2001

During our third annual legislative day in Washington, D.C .. John Goldberg who is a professional staff member with the Committee on Agriculture in the U. S. House of Representatives alerted us that this issue was about to resur­face. Sure enough, later in the month, it did! But with a twist. Now it seems that Ms. Boxer has teamed up with Senator RobertTorricelli (D-NJ) and pre-

22 Fall/Winter 200 I

vailed upon him to introduce SEPA as an amendment (No. 805} to President George W. Bush's Education bill. This tactic generally works favorably for the bill sponsor. To wit, attach what you are unable to move through Congress to a bill which in all probability will be passed, e.g. Senate 1 (S.1)- the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Initially, the named proponents of this legisla­tion would not allow AMCA a seat at the table. Repeated calls by members of AMCA to the different proponents as well as to Mr. Torricelli's staff went un­answered. As a result, on or about the June 19, 2001 , S.1 , With Amendment No. 805 (SEPA) attached, passes the U.S. Senate. Fortunately for AMCA, when HR. 1 was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives (S.1 's coun­terpart), no companion language was attached. Therefore, because of this, Amendment #805 would have to be settled during a joint House/Senate Conference committee.

Concomitant with the aforesaid ac­tivities, we had the American Crop Pro­tection Association who was coordinat­ing the lobbying effort for this amend­ment, to have outside council review the proposed amendment as it would relate to AMCA. Council suggested a two-sen­tence paragraph which would totally exempt public health vector control from this amendment. However, neither SenatorTorricelli's staff nor anyone else was receptive to our exclu.Sion. During the month of June, I contacted staff members with the Committee on Agri­culture on the House side and informed them that the AMCA constituents could not function appropriately to safeguard the children's health in the nation's pub­lic school system with the current provi­sions enumerated in SEPA. Principally, there are two concerns which were pointed out: (1) -"Notice of an upcom­ing pesticide application at a school shall be provided to each person on the reg­istry of the school not later than 24 hours before the end of the 1st business day during which the school is in session

that preceded the day on which the ap­plication is to be made and (2) the ap­plication of a pesticide for which notice is given under subclause (1) shall not commence before the end of the busi­ness day."

And the second concern stipulated that the use by students or staff mem­bers of an area or room treated by a pesticide shall remain unoccupied for a period "(II) if there is no period specified on the label, the 24-hour period begin­ning at the end of the treatment."

In July the AMCA was afforded the opportunity to publicly air these con­cerns during a Congressional Subcom­mittee hearing chaired by Representa­tive Bob Goodlatte (R-VA). Excerpts from the testimony provide the following ex­amples:

"For example. if on Monday morning a mosquito control district located the presence of a mosquito infestation on or around any property that is controlled, managed or owned by the school or school district, under the notification pro­cess, the district would be unable to treat until the following Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. Unfortunately, in­clement weather often prevails later in the afternoon including the early evening hours, thus precluding treatment of stand­ing water. Further, helicopters applying the pesticide could not safely fly at low altitude levels during the night time hours, as well as there being increased difficulty for the pilot being able to see the area requiring treatment. Under such circum­stance, mosquitoes in the aquatic stage could emerge into flying adults and/or lo­calized adult infestations could migrate into other populated areas. This would require more pesticide applications over a wider area and more frequently!'

"Because none of our currently EPA labeled public health pesticides requires a post treatment re-entry time, then, in keeping with the amendment address­ing the previous example, whatever time the pesticide application was made on Wednesday, individuals at the affected school would not be allowed to re-enter

continued on page 39

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AMCA · 2002 COLORADO

Adam's Mark Hotel - Denver Hosted by the WCMVCA

Future AMCA Meetings

2003 Minneapolis, MN

2004 Savannah, GA

2005 Vancouve~Canada

2006 Detroit, M I

AMCA 68th Annual Meeting at the Adam's Mark Hotel Denver, Colorado,

February 16 - 21, 2002. http://www.mosqu ito.org

Submitted papers on arboviruses, WNV, larviciding, adulticiding, biology,

control and up to date exhibits on latest equipment and products.

Future FMCA Meetings

2002 Amelia Island

2003 Miami

2004 Disney World

2005 Key West

2006 Hutchinson Island

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Meetings 'U'i1f9 i$'e4U FaiVWinter 2001 25

continued from page 15 F. Send a detailed letter to the local mosquito control agency and the school explaining exactly what the event involves. G. Prepare a press release and contact local TV news I talk shows to see if you can appear the day be­fore the event. H. Ask the school for a list of num­ber of classes per grade level and the best time for classes to have a visitor so that you can plan class­room speakers. I. Also have the school put out a sign-up sheet for the teachers to fill out for trips to the Touch Table. Make sure all the rules are under­stood (e.g. , teachers and aids stay with the classes, 20 minutes per session, # number of classes per session). Give the school a date when you would like to have this schedule finalized (2 weeks prior). J. Send the school and the local mosquito control agency your list of resource needs and find out how many they can supply. K. Start scheduling volunteers (on­going) and keep a list of what they can bring for the Touch Table. L. Send out your press release (2 weeks prior) and ask local mosquito control agency to start promotions on their end. M. Finalize all your schedules and get copies to everyone.

N. Contact your committee and vol­unteers and let them know when and where your pre-event meeting will be. Ask them to call your room when they arrive at regional or na­tional meetings so that you can col­lect their Touch Table contributions for early set-up. 0 . Get copies of poster contest rules to the school and ask them to copy and distribute to the teachers Also contact the local mosquito con­trol agency and let them know their role in the contest and the tasks in­volved. P. Call local media contacts (1 week prior) , remind them about the event and let them know when you will be in town, where you'll be and how to reach you.

At the Event HAVE A GOOD TIME! !!!

Post-Event A. Make sure to send everyone's supervisors personalized thank you letters. Also send letters to the lo­cal mosquito control agency and the school. B. Follow up with the local mos­quito control agency to make sure the poster contest is running smoothly. Contact the national or regional association office to let

them know who will be calling them about the savings bonds. C. Have the local mosquito control agency send you the winning posters.

I sincerely hope that this article will help you to plan and or­chestrate a successful "Mos­quito Day" event. Coordinating and holding these events has been some of the most reward­ing work that I have done throughout my career in mos­quito control. Good luck and let me know how it goes!!!

Dreda A . McCreary is a Biologist at the

Virginia Beach Mosquito Control Agency.

She was AMCA Public Education Committee

Co-Chair f rom 1995-2000.

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26 Fall/Winter 2001

Preliminary Studies of Malathion Susceptibility in Cule* pipiens Mosquitoes

Introduction During the summer of 2000,

caged-mosquito tests were con­ducted to determine the efficacy of the ultra-low volume (ULV) adulticide formulations of Fytanon® (malathion 96.8%) and Atrapa® (malathion 96.5%). The Atrapa® product was new on the market so we wanted to conduct evaluations before our agency considered using this product in our normal ULV adulticide operations. After conducting over 10 caged-mosquito tests the results were all unsatisfactory. Test results only produced a mean 48% reduc-tion of caged adult mosquitoes using either of the malathion products mentioned above.

Successfully conducting caged­mosquito tests is always a chal­lenge since the aerosol is at the mercy of the wind to blow it through the cages containing mosquitoes. Past experience has shown that frequently the spray will kill 1 00% of the mosquitoes in some of the cages while having poorer control in others as a result of the aerosol not drifting through these cages. However, we could always conclude from this data that if the aerosol did come in contact with adult mosquitoes, control would be effec­tive. During the summer of 2000 we failed to get 1 00% control with malathion in any of the cages used during more than 1 0 tests con­ducted. This caused us great concern , as we have never experienced such consistently poor test results in over 23 years of conducting caged-mosquito tests.

Our agency has been using organophosphate products since

by ;;;:~~ & s~ -;~

1977. Malathion has been used yearly as our main ULV adulticide product. Abate® (temephos) has been used as our standard larvicide in roadside ditches and cross country drains. In the late 1970s to early 1980s Dursban®(chlorpyrifos) was used sporadically as an adulticide for high density popula­tions in rural areas of our district. Additionally, Dursban® was our larvicide of choice in highly organic habitats such as sewage lagoons and catch basins. This history of organophosphate use, with a strong emphasis on Culex pipiens populations, caused us great concern about the potential for insecticide resistance. Beginning in August of 2000 and continu ing th rough the summer of 2001 , studies were conducted to deter­mine if resistance was a possible cause for poor control in ULV appli­cation of malathion against caged Culex mosquitoes.

Materials & Methods Three different tests were

conducted on Culex pipiens to evaluate the potential of organo­phosphate susceptibility. The first test was developed in Florida by the Mosquito Control Research Section of the then John A. Mulrennan Sr. Research Laboratory (now PHEREC) and was targeted at Culex larvae. In this test, 25 third instar larvae were exposed to malathion diluted in either acetone or alcohol at concentrat ions of 0.127 flg/ml (this was the sug-gested concentration used in Florida against Culex quinquefasciatus) .

After 24 hours, dead and/or moribund larvae were recorded. Dead larvae were those that could not be induced to move when probed; moribund larvae were those that were incapable of rising to the surface or did not show normal diving characteristics when probed.

The second test was a dose­mortality bioassay in which adult Culex mosquitoes were placed in 250-ml bottles which had the insides coated with varying concentrations/ bottle of malathion in acetone (see Table 1) At 180 minutes dead or live (whichever is easier to count) mosquitoes were counted in each of the 8 bottles. Adult mosquitoes from both Saginaw County and out­of-county areas (Gratiot and Shiawassee counties, where no control program is in effect) were tested in separate assays. Each bottle contained 20-40 adu lt mosquitoes raised in our insectary from field caught larvae. If any mosquitoes were still flying after testing, the bottles were placed in a freezer to kill them. When the test was completed the total number of mosquitoes was counted in each bottle and the percent mortality was calcu lated.

Table 1. Varying concentrations of malathion in dose-

mortality bioassays (J..tg)

3.71 14.83 59.32

237.26

7.42 29.65 118.64 474.56

'U'~ lS'Mf4. Fall/Winter 2001 27

The dose-mortality study was conducted to determine the LC95 fo r mosquitoes from Saginaw County compared to susceptible mosquitoes from areas that don't have a mosquito control program. For expedience, the sites selected to collect susceptible mosquitoes were the Ashley sewage lagoons in Gratiot County and the Elsie sewage lagoons in Shiawassee County. These small villages are nestled in a very rural setting surrounded by vast agricultural operations with a scattering of small woodland habitats. Both locations are about 6 miles from the Saginaw County line.

The third test was a time­mortality bioassay very similar to the dose-mortality study described above. However, in th is assay mosquitoes from both Saginaw County and out-of-county were exposed to a concentration of 4 7 4 ~tg of malathion per bottle. At 15-minute intervals, up to a total time period of 1 05 minutes, dead or live (which ever is easier to count) mosquitoes were counted in the bottles. When the testing was done

the total number of mosquitoes was determined . Controls using only acetone or alcohol were run in all three tests.

Results & Discussion A total of 26 studies were

conducted to test Culex larvae for potent ial resistance. Percent

the compilation of data from 29 bottle dose-mortality bioassays.

To compare dose mortality in Saginaw County with that of out-of­county mosquitoes, the LC95 was calcu lated for each: out-of-county mosquitoes had an LC95 of 9.87 J,.lg/ ml compared to the Saginaw County mosquitoes' LC95 of 22.25

mortality from these tests was then classified as to resistance levels as

FIGURE 2: LC95 Determination

c defined in Figure 1. E

Test results from the o ro 95 +---~~--~~--------------~

26 larval studies : resulted in 1 with "no" '" ?: res istance; 14 with ~ 90 +---+--------------------~ "slight" resistance; 6 o

with "moderate" resis- :iE ~

tan c e ; and 5 with c 85 +---...,.----.-----,------.-----.---..,.--~ "high" resistance. ' 3.71 7.42 14.83 29.66 59.32 118.64 237.28 474.56

In Florida, recent micrograms of malathion studies have shown that resistance has been isolated in very specific locations of a control district while the remammg mosquito populat io n remains completely susceptible. Therefore,

four of our tests were

Out-County (LC95 = 9.87ug/ml)

Saginaw Co. (LC95 = 22.25ug/ml)

Larval Resista nee conducted using larvae from mixed locations while the remaining 22 tests used larvae from single specific locations in Saginaw County.

J..Lg /ml. Resistance ratios were determined by dividing the LC95 of the field collected population by the LC95 of the susceptible population. The resistance ratio for this study is 2.3X in Saginaw mosquitoes, which means 2.3 times as much malathion is needed to kill Saginaw County mosquitoes compared to out-of­county mosquitoes. Simi lar tests conducted in Louisiana evaluated Cx. quinquefasciatus resistance to malathion, using a standard ratio above 5X for considering popula­tions resistant. Resistance ratios for malathion in Louisiana ranged from the mid-20s to 208X, with most populations falling around SOX.

100~~~~-----------~

~ 00,_~~--===~---------; I- 80 ~ 70 0:: 60 ~ 50 I- 40 ffi 30 ~ 20 ~ 10

Mosquito larvae were also collected from adjacent coun t ies (Grat iot and

0-'--'--r-'-_.L;,--r'-"-----'...:..:,.....L..--...J.£....r--'-;

Shiawassee) that have no mosquito control programs to act as control sites. Seven tests were conducted from

None Slight Moderate High

FIGURE 1: RESI STANCE LEVELS

Resistance Key

Percent Mortality 88-100 87-68 48-67 0-48

Degree of Resistance None Slight Moderate High

28 FaJJ/Winter 200 I

out-of-county areas and all 7 tests resulted in "no" resis­tance.

The results of this study are shown in Figure 2. The line that rep­resents out-of-county is the compilation of data from 8 bottle dose-mortality bioassays. The line that represents Saginaw County is

The final studies conducted were to determine the time-mortality of Saginaw County mosquitoes compared to a susceptible out-of­county population. A total of 28 tests for mosquitoes from Saginaw County were conducted and the combined data are illustrated in Figure 3. The resistance threshold for malathion can be determined by

continued on page 33

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The pesticides we distribute are supplied directly from the basic manufacturers who are committed to the highest standards of quality. The equipment that we offer is constantly being improved through research and development focusing on the application of the latest technology to meet the changing requirements of the marketplace.

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Value. A concept that in this day of mass manufactured, mass marketed everything is difficult to spot at times. A good value evolves when the price for goods and or services satisfies both the buyer and the seller. It is impor­tant for the buyer to be satisfied, and therefore willing and able to buy again. It is, however, also nec­essary for the seller to be agree­able to the amount of the transac­tion so as to keep making widgits, widgit juice or widgit application machinery of high quality, as the case may be.

There has been a great deal said about the bid process in this market. Pro and con views abound. There is an article that I have never seen but heard a great deal about that makes the case for accepting the second bidder on a product or service. Think about that. What value might that sec­ond bid have?

Regardless of how your pro­gram bids out products, equipment and or services, make sure that the process is reflective of your in­terests and your needs as a direc­tor/purchaser.

IT ALL STARTS IN THE SPECIFICATIONS

Pesticide and equipment manufacture for vector control is a serious business completed carefully and competently by many companies here in the US and around the world. Extolling the virtues of the precautionary processes necessary to mount such an undertaking here would certainly fall into the category of "Preaching to The Choir" so I won't waste my time or yours.

34 Fall/Winter 200 I

~rue ...

These companies are more than willing to provide information on the benefits and the advantages of their own particular products. Manufactu rers and thei r respective representatives are also an excellent source of technical information relative to these products and equipment. Those with integrity will share with you details about the product 's strengths and weaknesses.

To insure that you are receiv­ing bids on comparable products at comparable rates, or in the case of equipment, to get a like comparison, YOU need to write a set of bid specifications that make such a comparison pos­sible.

First, look carefully at the la­bels. This is the first place to start making a comparison. Insure that you are looking at the most cur­rent of these documents.

Look for an equalizer that lev­els the playing field so that a re­alistic comparison is achievable. Formulated products often have different use rates on the label. In order to make a valid compari­son, you may wish to ask the bid­der to reflect the cost per pound of active ingredient on the bid.

Watch out for the statement "It's the same thing:• There may be similarities in the active ingre­dient, in fact the active ingredi­ent may be the same, but there could be large differences beyond that. Formulations, package sizes, bulk delivery, shipping charges, technical support, reputation, per­formance, service, stewardship, quality, data on prior demonstra-

tions or the ability to complete dem­onstration trials for your district/pro­gram are all good things to look for.

Make sure that the specifications you develop reflect your intent. If it's the absolute cheapest product you want, regardless of quality, steward­ship or performance, you don't need specifications at alt.

INCLUDE THE USER IN YOUR SEARCH

Always insure that there is a strong link between the folks that have to use the equipment or the product that you are purchasing and the folks that are specifying these products as well as those purchas­ing them. The folks that use the prod­ucts in the field have value in assisting in this decision since they have to take what you purchase and try to make it work. If it's equipment, there are several things to watch for: compatibility with existing equipment (may help streamline maintenance costs) , performance, reliability, ser­vice and a track record.

A FEW OTHER POINTSTO REMEMBER

Always insist on a sample label or specimen label when developing the specifications.

Requ1re that a certificate of analy­sis, (C of A) is provided with the ma­terial at the time of delivery.

Never buy a product sight unseen from someone you don't know well.

Always insist on all documen­tation at the time of receipt, including labels, MSDS sheets and other information. Make sure that you do NOT take delivery of product (directly or by someone else in your shop accepting the item) unless all

required documentation is pre­sented at the time of delivery.

In buying equipment, don't be afraid to ask for the warranties up front.

Always feel comfortable calling the manufacturer to confirm who is and IS NOT the distributor for the product you are considering and where your service agent is in rela­tion to your shop.

Ask about other programs using the equipment and or product. If someone else has already invented the wheel , why should you? Get multiple references on the equip­ment and on the products. Once you get this information ... CALL them!

A FINAL THOUGHT Each year, a very small number

of persons disguise themselves as "manufacturers" and whip up a batch of SUPERBUGKILLING

JUICE2001 in the basement of some abandoned warehouse hop­ing to sell a diluted, adulterated or otherwise inferior product, at a very low price to unwary purchasing agents/directors and or others in charge of purchasing or procure­ment.

This year was certainly no ex­ception. In fact, the latest offender of this action is facing criminal charges for his efforts.

If you have any reason to believe that any product you have pur­chased has been tampered with, diluted or repackaged without the manufacturer's consent, please notify the authorities. The Depart­ment of Agriculture in your state is a good place to start. Other Federal and State agencies may also be interested. Laws written to guard interstate commerce are a serious issue in this country.

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The industry stands ready to assist you. New products, new equipment, new technology is everywhere. The business is more sophisticated, more professional and more noticed than ever before in its history.

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CLARKE 159 Garden Avenu e • Roselle, IL 60172 ,... www.clarkemosqulto .com email ; clarke@clarkemosqul to .com

Mosquito Control Global Solutions for Mosquito Control-

Service Products Equipment Education

'UiiH<J 2le4U Fall/Wmter 2001 35

Robinson Honored by Pasco County MCD On Nov. 15th, the Pasco County

Mosquito Control District held its 50th Anniversary Celebration at the 1 0-acre District complex in Odessa, FL. Over 200 people attended, including in­dustry reps, mosquito control workers, family, and friends.

Notable guests in­cluded two of the District's first Commis­sioners, lzzy DeCubellis and Ed Swartsel. lzzy served one term during 1951-1956, and then joined the District as a Larvicider in 1969. He finally retired as Assistant Direc­tor in 1979. Ed served as Commis­sioner for 30 consecutive years (1951-1981). Ed was one of the guest speakers.

Other speakers included the District's current Chairperson , Rosemary Mastrocola and John Biedler, whose first involvement with the District was in 1953 as a Re­gional Field Entomologist with the former Florida State Board of Health. Other persons relating

events during the first 50 years were Joe Ruff , retired Florida Dog Fly Program Director; Mark Latham, Manatee County MCD Director and current FMCA President; and Bill Opp, Lee County MCD Director and AMCA Southeast Region Repre­sentative.

since been attached to the admin­istrative building, and Jim received a personal version which read:

"Presented to James W. Robinson in recognition for a life­time of outstanding contributions, devotion, and leadership in the field of mosquito control."

The crowd spontaneously erupted in a lengthy standing ova­tion. This may have been the first time that anyone had ever seen Jim Robinson speechless - at least momentarily! z

During an emotionally charged ceremony Commissioner Mastrocola capped months of behind-the-scenes activity by dedi­cating the Pasco County MCD fa- Jim Robinson, Izzy DeCubellis, Ed Swanzei, John Beidler

cility in his honor to a surprised 30- A r 1 d h t b ·u d year Director Jim Robinson. A r •c ~:~o~g ~~~:~e~' e bronze plaque was unveiled that has Pasco co. MCD

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Service Producrs Equipment Education

36 Fall/Winter 2001 'U/~ rl&:tU

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Strategies to Consider When Establishing Educational Programs for Schools

Introduction Most mosquito control districts

(MCDs) recognize the importance of having a constituency know­ledgeable about mosquitoes, mosquito-borne diseases, and mosquito control activities. It is important to continuously update the public's understanding regarding mosquito related issues. While there are many ways to do this, this article will focus on the rationale of developing mosquito control edu-cational programs to be imple-mented in public schools.

There are many options avail­able to districts to improve commu­nication between the public and mosquito control personnel. Developing and uti l izing pamphlets that describe the MCD's program and philosophy has the potential to reach large audiences. Creating a cadre of speakers trained to present district activities to adult groups is useful in reaching some of the more active citizens. Producing and airing Public Service Announcements on radio or TV is useful for reaching some of the more passive citizens. Attending special events with a booth or exh ibit maintains a district's visibility and allows many individuals to quickly become exposed to the information displayed. Establishing and maintaining an MCD web-site allows more information to become available instantaneously to the requester.

38 Fall/Winter 2001 "U'~ g>e4t4-

Mutual Benefits Providing continuing educational

opportunities for the entire staff about current district activities and regional trends provides ambas­sadors to all segments of the community that are reflected by the diversity of the district staff. Estab­lishing an on-going relationship with area schools provides a reliable, sizeable, interested segment of society that, over time, adds to the general knowledge base of the area about mosquitoes and mosquito control in ways that can directly benefit the MCDs and the schools in which the districts serve. All MCDs should plan to utilize these

and other methods of reaching their constituency. It is important to note that working with schools, be they public or private, requires a special sensitivity and respect for educa­tional institutions.

The need for MCDs to have an educated and knowledgeable constituency complements the need for schools to provide relevant, integrated, high- level science

programs. As districts hire ento­mologists on staff, the scientific knowledge level of the county or municipal government increases.

In a time of interagency cooper­ation, it makes sense that more government scientists work with schools in cooperative efforts that benefit both institutions, to maxi­mize each institution's resources while providing needed resources to the other institution in realistically helpful ventures. For example, the MCD needs the public to recognize its role in abating breeding habitats for encephalitis-carrying or other nuisance mosquitoes. The science curriculum requires that students understand issues related to their

health. If both institutions pool their resources, an activity or a unit of study could jointly be created to accomplish both needs.

As a rule, public school funding is provided by ad valorem taxes collected locally and administered by the state through a legisla­tively managed funding fo rmula. The state legislature mandates educationa l goals, standards and benchmarks that school distr icts are

required to meet. Local school districts may establ ish additional requ irements that are met through the instructional process. Given all the state and local mandates, a classroom teacher has little room for "extra" programs or presentations that don't directly meet the requirements imposed. Fortunately, there are overlaps between what a teacher must teach and what most MCDs

want students to understand by the time they graduate from high school. It is prudent for MCDs to familiarize themselves with state and local curriculum mandates for schools; establish dialog with teachers to discover commonalties and create instructional units; provide supple­mental materials; visit classrooms with prepared presentations; and encourage teacher awareness of the science related to mosquito control.

Resources Many resources are available to

any district developing school related programs or reinventing established programs. The Florida Mosquito Control Association sponsors a series of courses each winter to train mosquito district personnel. Individuals involved with teaching about mosquito control related issues from around the state use this meeting to highlight their respective programs. While meeting with individuals who have had practice developing programs is an indispensable asset when creating a program, a most important step is to visit a school classroom where a model program is being conducted and interview the teacher or teachers involved.

In conc lusion, MCDs have a vested interest in the scientific level of sophistication of their constit­uency. A well-informed citizenry is better able to make decisions concerning mosquito contro l activities for their community. A poorly informed citizenry is more likely to react to mosquito control activities out of fear or concern based on a lack of understanding of the control measures utilized , surveillance techniques employed, potential for disease transmission, and training level of the district personnel. While there are a variety of methods a district can employ to continue the process of educating the public about mosquito control, working in the schools in a manner that truly facilitates students' understanding of science provides benefits in a win-

Characteristics of Quality Educational Programs: The program includes a clearly stated list of objectives from the mosquito control agency. An outline of the information that will be presented IS provided. The program includes a list of specific state and local goals, standards, objectives, and benchmarks that the program will meet There is a clearly stated goal that the purpose of the mosquito education program is to facilitate the student's understanding of science, how science research is conducted, how science affects everyone in the community - as well as to promote an understanding of mosquitoes for the district's purposes. The program should be designed for the particular audience or grade level. The program should incorporate a variety of instructional methods, lecture, discussion, lab activities, video, field trips, etc.

win situation for mosquito control programs and the students from the districts they serve.

rNeil Wilkinson is th~ Environmental Education Liaison & Instructor at Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL Tel: (941)590-7255

NWilkins @fgcu.edu

OOPS! WE GOOFED!

In the Summer 2001 issue of 'U'~ ~ea-u we reported that Kellie Etherson provided the drawing of the mosquito pupa for the cover page. Well, Keflie did send it to us, but the drawing was actually created by Stephen Sickerman with the Florida Department of Agricu lture and Consumer Services. Stephen did an excellent job and deserves the credit! We apologize for the mix-up!

continued from page 22

the treated school grounds until 24 hours after the treatment. In another words, the school personnel and chil­dren could not occupy these areas un­til sometime on Thursday."

On the day before Thanksgiving the Committee on Agriculture informed me that a House/Senate Conference Com­mittee vote would be taken next week, and the AMCA should come to Wash­ington, D.C. to present its case to the House Conferees who are affiliated with the Committee on Education and Workforce. This was accomplished, and on November 30, 2001 , the House Conferees concluded in a 7-6 vote to strip the amendment from President Bush's Education bill.

"Won the battle, but not the war". As I sit at my desk composing this

article, I received another telephone call from NPMA informing me that they are going to attach SEPA to another Senate bill prior to the holiday recess.

- Another Twist -Now it seems that the proponents

including Mr. Torricelli want to include our exclusionary language; thereby, ex­empting public health vector control from the statutory authority. We shall see!

r George Wichterman is the Chairman of AMCA's

Legislative & Regulatory Committee and an Entomologist with Lee County MCD

wichterman@ lcmcd.org

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