Vernal Pool presentation given by Ray Stewart. 2011.

1. Vernal Pool What’s all the Buzz
Monitoring about Mosquitoes
Workshop and Wetlands
April 9, 2011
Ray Stewart,
Friends of Wetlands
www.fowl.org 1

2. FOWL Mission
Education
Public Policy
Citizen Science
www.fowl.org 2

3. Mosquito Myth Buster
Let’s see what we
know
and what we
believe to be true
about mosquitoes.
Are wetlands
at fault for
mosquito problems?
www.fowl.org 3

4. Mosquito as vector for WNV
www.fowl.org 4

5. Mosquitoes as Vectors
Panama canal French efforts were
construction was halted by disease
slowed by lack of 20,000 died
healthy workers
infected with Under U.S. Efforts
Yellow Fever and 32,000 patients/yr.
Malaria
Thousands died
www.fowl.org 5

6. The Most Dangerous Predator
Best known for Responsible for:
spreading deadly An estimated 2-3
malaria, also million fatalities a
spread year.
elephantiasis,
yellow fever,
dengue fever and
West Nile virus,
www.fowl.org 6

7. Manitoba Mosquito Monument
www.fowl.org 7

8. 1. Mosquitoes are worthless
vile creatures
•Mostly feed on nectar
•Food source
for wildlife
•Protein rich
www.fowl.org 8

9. 2. Wetlands breed
tons of mosquitoes
Healthy Wetlands
Diverse ecology =
fewer mosquitoes
Predators include:
frogs, snakes, fish, crayfish,
dragonflies, damselflies, water
striders, water spiders,
backswimmers, predaceous
diving beetles and salamanders
www.fowl.org 9

10. 3. Purple Martins will take care
of the mosquito problem.
Eat few mosquitoes
10 minute opportunity
Advertising hype
www.fowl.org 10

11. 4. Build a bat house in your
yard and your mosquito
problems are over.
0.7% of diet
Opportunistic
Prefer moths,
beetles,
leafhoppers.
www.fowl.org 11

12. 5. Bug Zappers will control
mosquitoes in your yard
6.4% mosquito
Half are male
Harmless night flying
insects electrocuted
www.fowl.org 12

13. 6. Mosquitoes Carry
West Nile virus
Some Culex spp.
100+ spp. In US
do not
Culex spp. are
cavity breeders
www.fowl.org 13

14. 7. Aerial Pesticide Spray and
Fogging Are Effective Mosquito
Control Programs
Adulticides least effective
Indiscriminate
Genetic resistance
www.fowl.org 14

15. 8. The Citrosa Plant repels
mosquitoes
Citronella Geranium
Releases on contact
Short range
www.fowl.org 15

16. How to control mosquitoes
near your home:
Dispose of unwanted tin cans and tires.
Clean clogged roof gutters and drain flat
roofs.
Flush sump-pump pits weekly.
sump-
Stock ornamental pools with fish.
Change water in birdbaths, fountains, and
troughs twice a week.
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools; when
not regularly used, they should be emptied.
Turn over unused wading pools and other
containers that tend to collect rainwater.
Cover containers tightly with window screen
or plastic when storing rainwater for garden
use during drought periods.
www.fowl.org 16

17. - food webs
- nutrient transformations
- soil formation
- biodiversity
- habitat diversity