LIFE
CYCLE:
Mosquitoes have 4 stages of development - egg, larva, pupa and adult.
They spend their larval and pupal stages in water.
Females of most pest species in Warren County deposit eggs on moist
surfaces such as mud or fallen leaves. Rain
re-floods surfaces and stimulates the hatching of the eggs, starting the life
cycle. Mosquitoes take
approximately one week to develop from egg to flying adult.
Only the
female adult mosquitoes bite. After
emerging from the aquatic stages, adult mosquitoes mate and females then seek a
blood meal to obtain nutrients necessary for egg development. Adult male mosquitoes feed on plant nectar and die shortly
after mating. While various species
differ, the average life expectancy for adult mosquitoes is 4-6 weeks.
COMMISSION
ACTIVITIES:
If mosquitoes present a problem in your area, contact the Commission
office at (908) 453-3585. Our staff
will investigate your call promptly. Each
site is inspected to verify the presence of adult mosquitoes.
The area of the complaint is searched to locate the breeding source(s).
Control
efforts focus primarily on the immature, water borne stages of the mosquito.
The immature stages cannot escape control measures and are more
concentrated and accessible than the adult mosquitoes which disperse after
emerging. The primary insecticide used
is a bacterial larvicide that is specifically for mosquitoes.
Pesticide applications comply with recommendations made by Rutgers
University and regulations set by
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
The Commission also uses mosquito fish Gambusia
affinis which feed on the immature mosquitoes in locations that will sustain
fish but do not have other fish species present.
These fish are raised by the NJ Division of Fish, Game &Wildlife in
Hackettstown as part of the State Mosquito Control Commission’s bio-control
program. The Gambusia
are distributed to mosquito control agencies throughout the state.
The Commission also conducts year round water management/source reduction
projects that control mosquitoes by eliminating the standing water.
Hand labor and heavy equipment are utilized.
As a final line of defense, a spray for adult mosquitoes may be applied
by truck mounted sprayer if a significant mosquito population exists.
WINTER
ACTIVITIES: The question asked often
is “What goes on in the winter?” The
seasonal control operations start in February with the hatching of snowpool
mosquito species and continues into October, until a killing frost.
Water management activities proceed year round. Follow-up record keeping
on the season’s mosquito activity at all the breeding sites continues beyond
the active mosquito season. The inspection routes are revised after additions/deletions
of breeding sites. New sites where
the breeding source was not apparent with the presence of heavy vegetation in
the summer are inspected after the foliage falls for a clearer view of the area.
Breeding sites that are difficult to access are kept clear with brush
clearing work done when the time permits. Leaf dams are cleared from drainage
structures after the fall. Site
evaluation occurs to target sites for fish stocking or water management
potential. Prior to the spring
hatching, beehive locations are verified to avoid accidental exposure to honey
bees during our adult mosquito spraying activities.
Appropriate permits are pursued for the water management projects.
Equipment is maintained and readied for the next onslaught of mosquitoes.
Educational presentations are made at schools, etc. on mosquitoes and mosquito
control.
WHAT
YOU CAN DO:
Homeowners can provide effective control by eliminating standing water on
their property. Any container
holding water is a potential mosquito breeding source and is likely to cause
problems around your home. Of
particular concern are clogged gutters and scattered tires.
Both tend to collect leaves, then fill with water and provide very
attractive sites for mosquitoes to breed. Since
these containers are water tight, they dry out very slowly.
Natural depressions in your yard will hold water but will often dry out
in less than a week, killing the mosquitoes before they fly, whereas artificial
containers will remain wet. Keep
gutters clean and remove or overturn containers if possible.
Items such as dog water bowls and bird baths should be emptied and
refilled at least once a week. If
wet areas do exist on your property, bring them to the attention of the Mosquito
Commission personnel. Keeping adult
mosquitoes out of your home is the second step. Make sure windows and door screens are properly fitted and
holes are patched to prevent most mosquitoes from entering the house.
A wide
variety of repellents are available to provide relief from mosquitoes and other
insects. Most repellents contain
the same active ingredient, only the percentages vary.
Sport shops generally carry the brands that contain higher percentages.
The repellents are effective but caution should be used and directions
followed carefully.
DISEASE
POTENTIAL: West Nile Virus, a
mosquito-borne encephalitis, was first recognized in the US, in New York City
and surrounding areas in the Fall of 1999.
The primary vector is a mosquito commonly found around homes. La Crosse
Encephalitis, although rare in this area, is a form of encephalitis occurring
almost exclusively in children. While
the disease is seldom fatal it can cause convulsions and paralysis. This disease
is transmitted primarily by mosquito species that breed in tires and other
containers that are often found around the home.
Eliminating these breeding areas/conditions will help to protect the
health of your family.
Dogs and horses are targets for mosquito borne diseases. Dog heartworm is a serious threat to your pet’s life and is costly to treat once it is contracted through the bite of the mosquito. Your dog should be checked for this condition and put on preventative medicine. An exotic pheasant died of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Warren County in 1998 and the disease is a threat to horses. Horses should be vaccinated against EEE. As a responsible pet owner take these precaution.