2022-2023 MMCA Board and Committees
Bill Stanuszek President President's MessageAnother mosquito season has come to an end with more lessons learned. I wanted to begin by promoting the MMCA’s upcoming educational opportunities and recognize the hard work of those planning, preparing, and executing these events. Not only are our events educational but also offer MDARD credits and the opportunity to network. Upcoming events include:
We are excited to offer quality speakers and topics and look forward to your participation. I want to thank our 2022 7F Training and 2023 Conference Planning Committees as well as all the speakers and volunteers involved. This season the impact of dry/drought conditions on mosquitoes and its control has been a lesson for our region of Michigan (Great Lakes Bay Area) and much of the Lower Peninsula. The lack of nuisance mosquitoes even after substantial multi-inch rainfall events exemplified how the water-table and persistent environmental conditions impact mosquito populations. In previous years similar rain events resulted in substantial mosquito nuisance, primarily made up of floodwater Aedes. This includes Michigan’s number one nuisance, Aedes vexans. Permanent water mosquitoes, like cattail mosquitoes (Coquillettidia perturbans) and native Anopheles, still continued to impact communities in proximity to large freshwater habitats such as wetlands. The cattail mosquito nuisance was noted around the fourth of July and persisted into August just as the Anopheles mosquito populations began to ramp up. Artificial habitats that hold water all season long (scrap tires, buckets, pools, stormwater structures, etc.) often produce Culex and container Aedes, posing both disease and nuisance concerns for properties near those habitats. The challenges of these permanent water mosquitoes can be local (backyard artificial habitats) to community-wide (stormwater catchments and large wetlands). The control response therefore can vary from large, habitat-specific larva control programs (like routine roadside catch basin treatments) to individual yard surveys involving habitat removal (buckets, tires) and education. The response to resultant adult biting and disease transmission may vary accordingly, from community ULV treatment to individual yard treatments. Dry conditions usually produce mosquito-borne virus activity, especially West Nile virus. Statewide, mosquito arbovirus testing has noted several WNV detections on par with or in excess of recent years’ WNV activity. Fortunately, EEE activity has continued the downward trend with only three horse fatalities attributed to the virus in 2022. The California group viruses (Jamestown Canyon and La Crosse encephalitis viruses) were again detected in the Great Lakes Bay Region. I would like to thank the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Section for tracking arbovirus activity and the MDHHS’ Bureau of Laboratories for mosquito testing this season. An updated and full account of mosquito arbovirus activity can be found at MDHHS’ Arbovirus Summary, Michigan 2022. As for a mosquito control response to the season, control efforts centered on the immediate concerns associated with arbovirus and nuisance associated primarily with the permanent water habitats. Likely different strategies, products and amounts, and number of responses varied greatly from a “normal” season. No mosquito season is without lessons, and remember what a difference a season makes. I hope you take advantage of the MMCA’s upcoming educational opportunities. Have a great off-season! William Stanuszek |
Board Members terms will expire:
February 2023 - David Driver & Isaac Blackmon February 2024 - Rebecca Brandt, Kristy Brandt, and Britanie Rountree MMCA CommitteesAwards & Recognition - Kristy Brandt
Finance - Kristy Brandt
Legislative Liaison - Carl Doud
Member and Nominating - Rebecca Brandt
2023 Conference Planning - Bay County Mosquito Control
Public Education and Information - Ken Misiak
Scientific - Doug Allen
7F Training Seminar Planning - Midland County Mosquito Control
Strategic Planning - Carl Doud
Past Presidents
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