TAKING THE BITE OUT OF MOSQUITOES IN

BROMELIADS BY RALPH E. MITCHELL

CHARLOTTE COUNTY EXTENSION

FLORIDA CONTAINER MOSQUITOES

BACKGROUND - “BROMELIADS AND MOSQUITOES” AUGUST 16, 2016 – 9:30 AM TO 12:30 PM

The Players:

• UF/IFAS Charlotte County Extension Service

• Combining the forces of local Charlotte County Mosquito Control Department Mr. Scott Schermerhorn, Mosquito and Aquatic Weed Control Manager, and Beth Carey-Kovach, Biological Specialist

• Bromeliad Specialist, Mr. Gil Macadam

A “SOLD-OUT” CROWD OF FORTY-FIVE (45) PARTICIPANTS – A FREE PROGRAM

Objective: To increase their understanding of how to keep their bromeliads healthy and free of mosquitoes

BETH CAREY-KOVACH, BIOLOGICAL SPECIALIST

Aedes aegypti Aedes albopictus

EVALUATION

• An evaluation tool documented an increase in knowledge from 71% on the pre-test to a post-test average score of 86%.

• 72 % Strongly Agreed that they have increased their understanding of the relationship between Florida Container Mosquitoes and bromeliads.

• 74 % Strongly Agreed that they felt more confident about properly growing bromeliads as well as suppressing mosquitoes breeding in them.

• 74% Strongly Agreed that they plan to adopt at least one new tip or suggestion.

EVALUATION

• One participant wrote “…I am taking away a lot of good information. I especially learned a lot about mosquitoes that I feel the general public needed to be educated about!”

Wyeomyia vanduzeei Credit: Jim Newman

BACILLUS THURIENGENSIS ISRAELENSIS (BTI) GRANULES.

Photo: Roxanne Connelly UF/IFAS/FMEL

Door prizes of a granular Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) product were generously donated by ©Summit Chemical, Inc. for this program.

POSTSCRIPT…

• A NOVEMBER 7, 2016 ENCORE PROGRAM WAS HELD BASED ON POPULAR DEMAND

• ONLY 5 PEOPLE SHOWED UP

• ZIKA WAS NO LONGER IN THE NEWS

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

• A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP WAS DEVELOPED BETWEEN EXTENSION AND MOSQUITO CONTROL

• THE VALUE OF EXTENSION IN THIS TYPE OF REPSONSE WAS REINFORCED TO OUR COUNTY PARTNERS

RESOURCES

C. R. Connelly, E. Bolles, D. Culbert, J. DeValerio, M. Donahoe, K. Gabel, R. Jordi, J. McLaughlin, A. Neal, S. Scalera, E. Toro, and J. Walter (2014) Florida Resident’s Guide to Mosquito Control - Integrated Pest Management for Mosquito Reduction Around Homes and Neighborhoods. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS/USDA-NIFA.

Casey Parker, Roxanne Connelly, Dale Dubberly, Roberto Pereira, and Philip Koehler (2016) Zika Vector Control for the Urban Pest Management Industry. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.

Jorge R. Rey and C. Roxanne Connelly (2016) Florida Container Mosquitoes. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.

Gilman, E. F. (2014) Aechmea fasciata Silver Vase. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.