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Mother Nature reared her head during spring aerial operations. Over 52,000 acres were successfully treated but not without delays from winds and rain during the process. Also, warm temperatures in April and May saw larvae quickly developing in our spring woodlots. It was noted that larval densities were higher in spring woodlots this year, which partnered with the warm May temperatures, kept our ULV operations busy in untreated, wooded areas of the County through mid-to-late May. Fortunately, no significant flooding events occurred in May allowing our trucks to focus our nighttime operations in northern areas, with thresholds not being met to the south until mid-June!. Two Jamestown Canyon-positive mosquito samples were detected and responded to immediately and appropriately.
May saw typical larval treatment in spring woodlots, then moved toward summer habitats like tires and catch basins, and most recently a round of extended-residual treatments in community sites. We are headed into the festival season in Bay County and hope to keep visitors to these large-scale events protected from mosquitoes. The Cq. perturbans along the shoreline have been showing high counts earlier in the season than previous years, likely linked to the warm April and May. Here’s hoping that peak emergence may hit before the Independence Day holiday. We have implemented an additional truck-mounted Vortex TR blower for roadside ditches for the summer and hope to have a new GIS software system in place by fall to be used by all program components. The active ingredient methoprene was reintroduced into catch basins this year for project rotation and our Biology Department is very busy keeping up with continuing our Cq. perturbans trapping study and a number of other studies measuring effectiveness of different active ingredients and application rates in catch basins. Wishing everyone success this control season! Rebecca Brandt, Manager |
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The mild winter and warm spring resulted in what might be the earliest noted spotting of spring Aedes larvae on 27 February. Often it is the middle of March before we first find these. But at that time it was also fairly dry so although we observed early emergence of larvae, the dry conditions limited the overall emergence until later in March and April when some rain fell to flood additional habitat. Aerial treatment was carried out April 10-14. 63,000 acres of habitat were treated with an additional 1,817 acres treated by the foot crew.
The drone did get use this spring to complement aerial and foot crew treatment. A total of 96 acres were treated. It was the first time operating the drone to treat above forested habitat. This requires careful assessment of the altitude required to clear all trees and can vary by site. What looks to be a typical adult population emerged in May and nighttime fogging has occurred since May 13th. A good stretch of dry weather occurred with no significant rain until June 21-22. Crews are now addressing that by way of roadside ditch treatment and foot crew treatment of areas that take runoff rains. Wishing all a non eventful summer – at least as far as mosquitoes go! Carl Doud, Director |
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With July representing the halfway point of the mosquito season, we are maintaining our treatment goals, prioritizing larval treatments in large larval habitats, such as ditches, tires, woodlots, low areas, retention ponds, sewage lagoons, and neglected swimming pools. Nighttime spraying began in late May this year with weather being much warmer and wetter than last year. We are keeping up with community adult control, while providing property sprays for homeowner and community events. To address community questions and awareness about our treatment, services, and mosquito-borne disease, we update our website, www.saginawmosquito.com, daily. To receive notification about nighttime spraying within an area, residents can download our mobile app, by simply searching “saginaw mosquito” in either the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
We have noted the first detection of mosquito-borne virus in Michigan this season when Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) was detected in four mosquito collections of Anopheles punctipennis. This is now expected due to recent years’ spring JCV surveillance noting its annual occurrence. The JCV is likely supported in Saginaw County by the numerous mosquito vector species and the host deer population, along with the abundant habitat that nurtures both vector and host from spring through summer. We also collected a dead crow at the end of May which tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). We would like to thank the MDHHS’ Bureau of Laboratories testing our various vector species for a variety native arboviruses. We would like to recognize some personnel changes here at Saginaw Mosquito, Ryan DuRussel recently accepted our newly minted Field Technology Coordinator position, which will facilitate and lead our GIS ecosystem along with developing a UAV (Drone) program for the county. We were fortunate to find a foreman from within our seasonal ranks. Travis Coughran accepted the position, bringing many seasons worth of knowledge and leadership experience. The following events and services further summarize the mosquito season and our operations: April
William Stanuszek, Director |
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This past spring all historical and requested flooded woodlots sites in the county were treated with Vectobac G. Our larviciding crews did a great job this spring and added many miles to their boots.
County wide truck fogging and requested yard treatments for adult mosquitoes began on May 13. However, a number of weather related conditions shut us down several times during the beginning of the adulticiding season. Cooler night temps have been a welcome occurrence during the month of May and the first couple of weeks in June. The day shift will be treating catch basins, roadside ditches and all sewage lagoons in the county. Free tire collection drop off sites began on May 4 and will continue at 11 individual township locations during the summer months. Once again, thank you to Tuscola County Recycling for their partnership with us. Trap counts have remained lower than expected. Currently, test results have read negative for disease in the county. Arbovirus surveillance will continue and vector samples will continue to be submitted to MDHHS Laboratories during the season. The entire staff completed a Stop the Bleed trauma training class provided by Laura Walker from Covenant Healthcare. This class provides training to those individuals without healthcare experience and what to do in the event of a bleeding emergency. Have a great summer! Larry Zapfe, Director |
