Reasons for Mosquito Control
The reasons for mosquito control are many and varied. Public opinion being so diverse, ranging from the "I can't stand one bite" to "leave them alone as part of nature", has made it necessary for scientists, health officials and regulators to pass certain laws for protection of humans and their domestic animals from mosquitoes.
There are four major reasons for mosquito control:
Public Health
In tropical areas, mosquitoes transmit malaria, yellow fewer, dengue and encephalitis. In New Jersey we have had serious outbreaks of Eastern Encephalitis and St. Louis Encephalitis and in 1991, malaria reappeared. Dog heartworm is rarely a threat to humans but is a common and often fatal disease in canines. Control measures lessen and often prevent outbreaks of these vector borne diseases.
Public Welfare
The standard of living in America has progressed to a point where citizens wish to enjoy the outdoor recreation areas and especially their own backyards without taking extreme protective measures or avoiding certain areas altogether. The economic climate of today's tourism makes places such as campgrounds and the Jersey Shore a billion dollar industry that could be decimated by an outbreak of disease during the peak tourists season. Control measures are employed to avoid this and to enable people to enjoy their outdoor recreation.
Environment
People are important in today's world too. Many people and animals have developed allergies to mosquito bites. Sound techniques and integrated control programs are designed to benefit or to have minimal adverse effect on people, wildlife and environment. A mosquito free environment is important in today's world of active outdoor pursuits. The selection of scientifically sound suppression methods is based on consideration of what is ecologically and economically in the long-term best interest of mankind.
Mandate
In 1906, and again in 1912, the New Jersey legislature under the Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics, passed laws creating mosquito control commissions, mandating county governments fund them and giving the commissions the power "to perform all acts which in its opinion may be necessary for the elimination of mosquito breeding areas or which will tend to exterminate mosquitoes within the county.” A law just as valuable today has reduced mosquito populations and kept them under control.
PESP
This "Partnership Strategy Document" for USEPA's Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) has been developed by the New Jersey Mosquito Control Association (NJMCA), a sustaining member organization and affiliate of the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA).
Chapter VII of the AMCA Partnership Strategy Document provides for qualified member organizations to attain PESP partnership status under the auspices of AMCA. NJMCA is the oldest ongoing professional association of mosquito control workers in the United States and heartily endorses the concept of a PESP. This document and accompanying appendices describe the current status of mosquito control activities in New Jersey. The document also details our use of an Integrated Pest Management approach to controlling mosquitoes that is consistent with the goals of the PESP.
We, the members of NJMCA, have been stewards of the environment for more than eight decades. This platform gives us an opportunity to tell our story, establish goals for the future and create parameters for measuring achievable PESP milestones.
Review the NJMCA PESP document.
Educational Materials
Other Resources for Mosquito Information