Route 12 County Complex, Building #7
PO Box 2900
Flemington, New Jersey 08822-2900
908-788-1351
908-788-1351
Tadghg Rainey, Program Coordinator

Dear Friends:

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Health’s Mosquito and Vector Control Program. Following you will find an overview of this new program and its planned activities. In addition, information about mosquitoes and their common breeding areas is included, as well as the actions you can take to help reduce the breeding areas around your home.

We hope you find this timely and useful. Also, we have provided additional resources on the last page of this booklet. For more detail on West Nile Virus and its transmission, visit our page titled: “West Nile Virus: A Concern in Hunterdon?” or you may request a hard copy by calling the Department of Health at the number below.

For any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 908-788-1351 .

Tadhgh Rainey,
Program Coordinator

As early as 1906, the New Jersey state legislature began to discuss the importance of mosquito control in this state. In 1912, in an effort to curb the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, the legislature urged the establishment of mosquito control programs in each county.

In addition to their potential to spread infectious diseases, biting mosquitoes also have a significant impact on the quality of life.

More recently however, new concerns have been raised. In August of 1999, the West Nile Virus emerged in New York City and surrounding areas, resulting in 62 human cases of illness, seven of which were fatal. This recent outbreak has highlighted the public health importance of having a responsible mosquito control program in place.

In the fall of 1999, two crows were identified here in Hunterdon as positive for the West Nile Virus. No human cases were diagnosed among county residents at that time.

In January of 2000, the Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved the development of the Mosquito and Vector Control Program. This new program, coordinated within the Department of Health, has begun the work of mosquito surveillance and control, starting with the hiring of Program Coordinator, entomologist Tadhgh Rainey.

Tadhgh has strong experience in the area of black fly and mosquito surveillance and control, as well as with mosquito-borne viruses such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and West Nile Virus (WNV).

In addition to the Coordinator, the program also employs a full-time inspector. As much of the work is concentrated in the spring and summer months, seasonal staff will also be utilized to help implement the daily activities.

The Health Department has recently purchased a specialized vehicle for this new program, and has created an on-site lab to be used for species identification.

Although this program will eventually direct efforts to other vectors (such as black flies and potentially ticks), its initial focus is mosquitoes. There are numerous activities that come under the purview of this new program initiative - following is a description of the immediate tasks at hand for the upcoming season.

All modern, responsible mosquito control efforts start with surveillance of both larval and adult mosquito populations, to justify the need for control efforts. Detailed documentation is essential for this component, both at program onset as well as in the evaluation of utilized control methods. Larval surveillance will involve sampling a wide range of water habitats for the presence of mosquito larvae. This sampling will allow staff to identify the species found in this community, determining whether or not they may be vectors for disease.

Adult surveillance will utilize ‘light traps’, which collect adult mosquitoes throughout the summer months. Such traps are placed throughout the county so that mosquitoes can be collected and identified.

Source reduction involves eliminating or altering mosquito larval habitat and is, in fact, the most effective and economical method for long term control. The goal is to eliminate or reduce mosquito breeding habitat, thereby reducing the need for insecticide use.

Source reduction may include simple sanitation efforts such as the removal of old tires, cleaning of rain gutters, etc. Or, it may involve more complex activities such as water management or stream and storm water basin cleaning.

Killing adult mosquitoes with chemical pesticides is generally considered the last option, utilized when alternative methods of control are ineffective or for some reason not feasible. As with all pesticide use, it is essential that the applications be properly timed and targeted.

When targeting larvae (referred to as ‘larviciding’), the focus will be on small breeding areas, killing the larvae before they emerge as adults and disperse to residential areas. Here in Hunterdon, bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and Bacillus sphaericus (Bs) will be used to control larvae.

In most cases, the above methods will be applied to specific larval habitats, such as catch basins, storm drains and storm water detention basins. These activities may take place on public and/or private lands.

Although the primary focus of the Mosquito and Vector Control Program will be development of an effective mosquito control program, staff will, in the future, expand its focus to include black flies and possibly ticks. Questions regarding either of these vectors can be addressed by the Program Coordinator.

There are over 3,000 species of mosquitoes worldwide, with 150 known to exist in North America. Within New Jersey’s boundaries, over 63 species have been identified. The mosquitoes most likely to be found around the home in urban and suburban communities are the ‘northern house mosquito’ (Culex pipiens) the ‘eastern tree-hole mosquito’ (Aedes triseriatus), and the ‘summer flood water mosquito’ (Aedes vexans). In their immature stages, the mosquitoes require water to survive. Ideal breeding areas include old tires, unwashed birdbaths, stagnant water, and pool covers with trapped water. (See homeowners’ checklist for other likely breeding areas.)

Typically, mosquitoes go through 4 life stages, as seen in the drawing to the right. The life span of mosquitoes varies from two weeks to several months, and depending on the species, will feed in the early morning or early evening. However, some will feed during daytime hours.

Mosquitoes require a blood meal to develop fertile eggs. Males, because they do not lay eggs, do not bite. Throughout a season, females can lay several ‘batches’ of eggs, requiring a blood meal for each batch. Each batch may contain as many as 200 eggs. Other than for reproduction, mosquitoes normally feed on nectar from plants and flowers.

While any insect that feeds on blood has the potential of transmitting disease from person to person, the county has seen no incidence of locally-acquired malaria, West Nile encephalitis, or other mosquito-borne infection. (For detailed information about the West Nile Virus, see “West Nile Virus: A Concern in Hunterdon?”) Not all diseases, however can be transmitted by mosquitoes.

To help detect the presence of potential disease agents in the county, the department will be working with the State Mosquito Control Commission and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to place ‘sentinel chickens’ throughout the county. First, the chickens will be screened, via blood draw, for antibodies to the viruses that cause West Nile Encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis and other diseases. Next, the fowl will be placed in areas where there is known adult mosquito activity, and then tested each week thereafter for the presence of antibodies specific to each disease. Sentinel chickens serve as an ‘early warning’ signal for disease activity in the area.

There are several things residents can do to help reduce the annoyances caused by hungry mosquitoes.

• Stay indoors at dawn, dusk and in the early evening
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when you are outdoors
• Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin . Prod- ucts containing 20% - 30% DEET are known to be effec- tive against mosquitoes. Follow Manufacturer’s direc- tions carefully. DO NOT apply to children under 3 years of age, and DO NOT apply to the hands and face of children. Repellents containing Permethrin are for CLOTHING ONLY. Follow Manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
• Keep weeds cut back and mow the lawn regularly to re duce ‘mosquito-friendly habitats.’ Adult mosquitoes prefer to rest on weeds and other vegetation.
• Avoid use of insect electrocutors (‘bug zappers’), as they have been shown to be ineffective in reducing out- door mosquito populations or their biting activity. In fact, these devices often harm beneficial insect populations.

The most effective way to control mosquitoes is to eliminate their breeding areas. In addition to the above personal protection methods, it is essential that all residents take action to reduce mosquito breeding areas on private property. Effective mosquito control — on a county-wide basis — depends on each resident doing his or her part. Check your property carefully for such sites, using the checklist that we have developed.

For more information about this program, or mosquito control in general, contact us at:

Hunterdon County Department of Health
Mosquito and Vector Control Program
Route 12 County Complex, Building #7
PO Box 2900
Flemington, New Jersey 08822-2900
908-788-1351

Visit the Health DepartmentWebsite

Or visit other mosquito-related websites:

New Jersey Mosquito Home Page (sponsored by Rutgers University Dept. of Entomology)
www-rci.rutgers.edu/~insects/njmos

American Mosquito Control Association
www.mosquito.org

Mosquito breeding around the home can be greatly reduced by following these simple steps:

• Dispose of old cans, plastic buckets, ceramic pots, or other containers that may collect water on your property
• Dispose of old, discarded tires—these can produce thousands of mosquitoes in just one season
• Clean clogged roof gutters at least annually — these can produce millions of mosquitoes each season
• Eliminate water collecting in pool or boat covers
• Drill holes in bottom of recycling containers left outdoors to prevent from them collecting rainwater
• Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use
• Do not allow water to stagnate in bird baths
• Eliminate standing water around animal troughs
• Fill standing puddles, ditches, tree holes or tree stumps

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