I am forwarding this message from Paula Cannon, a frequent contributer to American Butterflies magazine and a resident of Big Pine Key.
Dear insect and butterfly lovers,
If you know anyone willing to write a brief letter in regard to why mosquito control should NOT be spraying on refuge land nationwide, there is a two month comment period regarding this where the public can tell their view. I’ve included the contact info. Please pass it to any butterfly people you know. They are allowing comments till Feb 18. It is very important that everyone responds, very few knew about this the first time around and only a few comments were sent in, so they extended the comment period as requested. Please send comments to: refugesystempolicycomments@fws.gov
Let them know that mosquito control chemicals are killing our butterflies and many other insects. Insects deserve to be protected on refuge lands.
On Dec. 30, 2007, mosquito control sprayed Big Pine Key, FL for the second time in 4 days. My yard count went from 138 butterflies to 0 and has remained at 0 since they sprayed. These chemicals are devastating to the butterflies and other insects.
Thanks for your help, and please pass this on.
Art Constantino
Please help! Mosquito spraying is devastating butterflies
Done.
WOW -- how devastating!!
Hi, Art,
I sent an e-mail, too.
It might be helpful, though, if you can provide a link to a site that explains what the policy is that allows this kind of spraying...do you have that info to share?
Thanks. t.
I sent an email too, there are many articles showing the adulticides don't work and are toxic to the environment.
Oh my! That is disturbing. We have mosquito control spraying here in my area. It never occured to me that it would kill my butterflies. For some stupid reason I thought it was a spray that left a residue coating on water sources to prevent the larvae from developing. I didn't know that it was also killing the adult mosquitos. That's very alarming!
They just started spraying here when the west nile virus moved in a few years ago, so what are the alternative methods does anyone know, we have to do something for the mosquitoes other than elimanating our pools of water and using the disks and we NEED our butterflies!
This is soo disturbing!
I don't know what's the answer to this delima. It takes scientists out there to help in the long run. Since mosquitoes are deadly vectors of some deadly diseases.....
I'd be concerned about my butterflie at the mean time.
Kim
This bites! There must be a better way to control mosquitos than killing ALL insects in the process. I'm so mad everytime I think about this! Grrrrr ...
I guess I'll quit using that yardguard I bet it kills insects and butterflies too! I hope they come up with an alternative soon but somehow I don't think this will be on their priority list!!!!
I know that the Gov't has tons of regulations on chemicals and environmental impact studies have to be done for a lot of things before they can happen. I will check the EPA area and Natural Resources and Conservation Service (in U.S. Department of Agriculture) to see if they have anything about skeeter spraying. Most food growers have to abide by certain regulations on spraying and runoff damage. It seems that some States have more leeway to do what they want, and Florida may be one of them since it is a big source of agriculture and plant production.
It is a shame that organic methods haven't been marketed enough to combat West Nile. All I have seen is individual human health precautions coming in through e-mails.
Dallas has been spraying or fogging in various areas for a few years, but Fort Worth doesn't as far as I know. They do put out the dunks, etc. the creeks, ponds etc. I don't think we have had anymore reports of west nile than they have.
I live in the country and they don't spray here thank goodness and I try to watch my water buckets really good and anywhere water collects I hate chemicals and only use the yardguard because I'm tired of getting bit lol I think I will call the news paper if I can get enough information about it and have them do a story on it in the spring and maybe at least butterfly people will listen, everything starts somewhere.
Message sent- w/references.