In New Jersey, organized mosquito control work began in the early 1900's following the discovery that mosquitoes were directly responsible for the transmission of some of the most deadly diseases known to man and his animals.

Today, control of these pests in the state is addressed at every level of government, ranging from seasonal programs at the municipal and federal levels, to year-round programs administered by county and state agencies. One such agency is the State Mosquito Control Commission.

The State Mosquito Control Commission was established in 1956. The commission is staffed full-time by the Office of Mosquito Control Coordination and is located at the Department of Environmental Protection. Membership on the commission includes 6 public members and 4 state officials. The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints the public members who serve for 4-year terms. Ex officio members include the Commissioners of the Department of Health, and Department of Environmental Protection, the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, and the Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

The commission is responsible for the monitoring of mosquito control activities in the state. It must recommend to the Governor and State Legislature changes in existing laws needed to efficientaly carry on mosquito control efforts throughout the state. One of the commission's promary goals is to protect the general public from nuisance mosquitoes and the threat of mosquito-borne disease. It strives to ensure that only the most environmentally safe and efficient mosquito control techniques, products, and equipment will be used in achieving its goal. State aid and equipment are provided to county mosquito agencies to assist them in their mosquito control projects and programs. A safe environmentally -sound Mosquito Airspray Program is maintained. The commission reviews municipal and county mosquito control programs and projects to ensure their compliance with existing state and federal regulations and policies. It also supports and encourages the training of county mosquito control personnel and education of the general public with regard to mosquito biology, surveillance, and the various chemical, biological, and water management techniques and practices used in the state's abatement efforts.

Water Management: Source reduction, or water management, is viewed as the most efficient method of mosquito control. In general, water management can be defined as the enhancement of the environment to reduce or eliminate those habitats favorable for mosquito production.

Although water management techniques vary depending upon the mosquito species and their breeding habitats, all accomplish two major objectives: (1) they provide long-term or permanent control, and, (2) they eliminate the need for the repeated use of chemicals in the managed areas.

The commission has provided state aid to various county mosquito control agencies to support water management projects since 1956.

Vector Surveillance: Since 1976, Rutgers University has monitored Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus activity in New Jersey mosquitoes, with funding from the commission. EEE is a mosquito-borne disease that frequently infects wild birds, horses and in some cases, humans. The mosquitoes involved in its transmission are collected at specific sites in the state and with commission funding are tested by the Department of Health for the EEE virus. Mosquito control agencies are updated weekly during the active season on the status of EEE and its mosquito vectors.

State Equipment Use: Various types of equipment, ranging from specialized low-ground pressure hydraulic excavators to laboratory equipment, are available to county mosquito control agencies and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station for mosquito-related research and control projects. The Office of Mosquito Control Coordination administers this program with funds appropriated annually by the commission. Some 61 pieces of equipment are available free-of-charge to mosquito control agencies statewide.

Mosquito Airpsray: Funded by the commission and administrated by the Office of Mosquito Control Coordination, this program provides a variety of contracted aircraft for the application of larvicides and adulticides spread over large or inaccessible areas. All earial applications are directed toward confirmed mosquito populations which have the potential to create a major public nuisance or pose a threat to human health.

Biological Control: With Biological control, natural predators or parasites are used to eliminate or control the target pest. A natural predator, the mosquitofish (Gambusia iffinis), has greatly aided the commission's goals. With commission funding, the fish are raised at the Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife's Charles O. Hayford Hatchery in Hackettstown and distributed, at no charge, to county mosquito control agencies. Where practical, these fish control mosquito populations and reduce the need for pesticides.

Research and Development: The commission annually allocates funds to support mosquito-related research. The provision of funds and use of state-owned equipment for research has been an investment primarily geared toward the development of more environmentally-sound mosquito control methods in New Jersey. In the past, this research has focused on mosquito biology, mosquito-borne disease, pesticide resistance, alternatives to pesticide use, and impacts of mosquito control activities on the state's wetlands.

Meetings: The commission normally meets on a monthly basis in Trenton. In addition, the commissioners also participate in various meetings, seminars, and conferences with local, county, state and federal officials to address mosquito control-related programs, services and issues in the state.

For a copy of the commission's annual report, or for more information about mosquito control, contact: