They use helicopters to control the environment in which mosquitoes breed (their "vector" in weird speak).
This chopper had two bins attached as it flew back and forth dropping clouds of pellets onto my car:
Bacillus Thuringensis is supposed to control the pests by interrupting their breeding cycle or something. I first met BT when I was a reporter in California about 25 years (erk!) ago and fruit flies were causing problems. BT was viewed with deep scepticism by people who had fought to have DDT suppressed.
BT dispersed this way looks harmless enough as it floats on puddles of rainwater:
It was the first time I ever got up close to these things one day while I walked Cheyenne on Big Pine Key. She ignores human made noises and is as unmoved by a helicopter buzzing her as she is by a thunderstorm overhead. The pellets looked like some alien cereal to me. I half wanted to try them with some milk:
And this stuff, unlike chemicals is not harmful to a car's paint (I hope!): 
As unlikely as it seems the Mosquito Control District of Monroe County is a hotbed of dissent and drama just at the moment. The county has been having issues one way and another with the State Attorney moving ahead on his campaign promise to wipe out corruption. The Bug Board as the headline writer for the Citizen newspaper likes to call them, have been arguing rather volubly and rather publicly. 
The first problem arose when it was discovered the boss of the District is the highest paid public official in the county. And he head sup the smallest public agency in the county. As I recall his base pay rate was something like $185,000 a year and he took umbrage when it was suggested it might be rather too much money.
Then the manager of the district appointed a deputy and board members got all in a huff saying he didn't have the authority. Then somebody else suggested two members of the board had been discussing stuff improperly between themselves violating Florida's Sunshine Law which requires the business of the public to be carried out in public... and on and on and on.
Meanwhile I'm happy to see the business of suppressing mosquitoes and their abundant habitat goes on by the lower paid echelons of the district. All this standing freshwater produced by the abundant rains is excellent habitat for mosquitoes and were it not for the helicopters and trucks buzzing around life would be a living hell for any warm blooded mammal breathing carbon dioxide. Mosquitoes are attracted to CO2 so if you stop breathing they will reportedly loose interest. A better solution is to spray like hell and wait for the waters to recede...I hope the Bug Board gets their shit together after the upcoming election if not before so we can live to breathe another day.
This chopper had two bins attached as it flew back and forth dropping clouds of pellets onto my car:Bacillus Thuringensis is supposed to control the pests by interrupting their breeding cycle or something. I first met BT when I was a reporter in California about 25 years (erk!) ago and fruit flies were causing problems. BT was viewed with deep scepticism by people who had fought to have DDT suppressed.BT dispersed this way looks harmless enough as it floats on puddles of rainwater:It was the first time I ever got up close to these things one day while I walked Cheyenne on Big Pine Key. She ignores human made noises and is as unmoved by a helicopter buzzing her as she is by a thunderstorm overhead. The pellets looked like some alien cereal to me. I half wanted to try them with some milk:And this stuff, unlike chemicals is not harmful to a car's paint (I hope!): 
As unlikely as it seems the Mosquito Control District of Monroe County is a hotbed of dissent and drama just at the moment. The county has been having issues one way and another with the State Attorney moving ahead on his campaign promise to wipe out corruption. The Bug Board as the headline writer for the Citizen newspaper likes to call them, have been arguing rather volubly and rather publicly. 
The first problem arose when it was discovered the boss of the District is the highest paid public official in the county. And he head sup the smallest public agency in the county. As I recall his base pay rate was something like $185,000 a year and he took umbrage when it was suggested it might be rather too much money.Then the manager of the district appointed a deputy and board members got all in a huff saying he didn't have the authority. Then somebody else suggested two members of the board had been discussing stuff improperly between themselves violating Florida's Sunshine Law which requires the business of the public to be carried out in public... and on and on and on.Meanwhile I'm happy to see the business of suppressing mosquitoes and their abundant habitat goes on by the lower paid echelons of the district. All this standing freshwater produced by the abundant rains is excellent habitat for mosquitoes and were it not for the helicopters and trucks buzzing around life would be a living hell for any warm blooded mammal breathing carbon dioxide. Mosquitoes are attracted to CO2 so if you stop breathing they will reportedly loose interest. A better solution is to spray like hell and wait for the waters to recede...I hope the Bug Board gets their shit together after the upcoming election if not before so we can live to breathe another day.
6 comments:
Mosquitoes for some reason mostly ignore me. I could say how disappointed I am with their behavior, but no one would believe me. Guess if I really want that kind of company I'll have to breath more ... with garlic for lunch, of course. -:)
Ive read somewhere that's its the female Mosquitoe that bites................Only female mosquitoes bite, and all mosquitoes live on the sugar found in plant nectar, not on blood. But there is a reason females seek blood.
Female mosquitoes, unlike males, have a proboscis. This is a long thin needle-like built-in syringe located at the mouth. They use this to impale their victims, in order to fill their abdomens with blood. Proteins in the blood are necessary to produce fertile eggs. Since males cannot produce eggs they have no need for blood. Females require a new blood 'meal' for every nest they lay, and produce about 250 eggs per meal.
Geez they are little vampires. That's the end of todays lessons kids.
Dear Sir:
Do I understand you would prefer the spraying of a chemical over this BT stuff?
New York State's Adirondacks are famous for the black fly. You could donate two quarts of blood unloading the groceries from the car with those things. There would be bazillions of them, and the bites hurt.
The state used to spray to control them, as the black flies effectively controlled the tourists. But that spray got into the ground water... It hurt the eagles and other waterfowl... It was bad for the fish. It wasn't good to breathe either.
The state switched to something else, and that BT stuff may have been it. It was much easier on the environment and was as effective, or ineffective, as the spraying was.
I have added stabilizer to the gas in the tank on the bike as it does not seem like I will be riding for another month. Another 6 to 8 inches of snow is predicted for tomorrow.
My friend Ihor, a gent who commuted to Long Island many times, chimed in on your projected run to Montauk. He is wondering if you can plan to arrive at the Goethal's Bridge just about daybreak on Saturday. That would give you three hours to get through New York City and metropolitan Long Island before the traffic would have a real chance to build.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
Like pefley I am not one who gets welts from mosquitoes on the few occasins the females come by for blood ( (Judi has an eye for inconsequnetial as do I). I think male mosquitoes would be more polite if they were the ones needing blood.
riepe is a provocateur and needs fresh chemicals over his house.
I am planning ion leaving Key West the third Thursday morning (noon ish) of may and I will plan to ride through New York at dawn. Can I stop on the freeway shoulder for pictures?
Dear Sir:
While my plans haven't jelled yet, I may be sitting astride the majestic Fire Balls at the Woodbridge Service Plaza on I-95 at 4am on the third Saturday of May, ready to lead the charge into Long Island.
Or I could be out at Montauk, soaking up the rum that weekend, waiting for you to turn up. It will be an interesting ride nonetheless.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
somebody should warn New York.
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