STATE RECLAMATION AND MOSQUITO CONTROL BOARD 

 Lewis F. Wells, Jr., Chairman 

 James L. Dallas, Member 

 Gilbert A. Bliss, Member 

 Elizabeth M. Costello, Secretary 

 Mark S. Buffone, Entomologist 



MOSQUITO NOTES 



Although precipitation was above normal early in 1984, the mosquito season 

 was slow to start. Cold spring temperatures and the absence of the warm rays of 

 the sun kept water temperatures low. *" " ■" "■ ■■ '' ■" '' '' ■^ 



conditions reversed long enough to stimulate hatching of late mosquito species. 

 Consequently, mosquito larvae were found throughout the state in woodland pools, 

 isolated pools of water scattered throughout flood plains, flooded stump holes, 

 and flooded fresh and saltwater marsh edges. Invariably, many of these larvae 

 succeeded in maturing to hungry winged female adults to once again interfere 

 with our many outdoor activities. 



In the main, populations of nuisance mosquitoes were variable throughout 

 the Commonwealth and ranged from low to moderate depending on the locality. 

 Overall, calls for mosquito control services were down during 1984 compared to 

 1983 but the potential of Eastern Encephalitis still remained a viable threat in 

 1984. 



EASTERN ENCEPHALITIS 



As reported in 1983, it appeared that 1984 would be a year of higher than 

 average risk from Eastern Encephalitis (EE), an illness caused by a virus main- 

 tained by wild birds and transmitted by mosquitoes. Consequently, the State 

 Department of Public Health issued a bulletin to Massachusetts Health Officers 

 in February. In part, this bulletin stated "Health Officers in municipalities 

 lying within the traditional areas of risk should advise municipal selectmen and 

 administrators that local budget reserves for mosquito control would be 

 justified by health protection considerations going beyond 'nuisance control' 

 issues." 



It was agreed that the period of increased risk would start in late July, 

 or early August. Therefore, communication and public information between the 

 State Department of Public Health, State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board 

 and the public was increased to stay alert during this period. 



As the mosquito season progressed, the expected appearance of the virus 

 never really became apparent until late summer. The mosquitoes that amplify the 

 virus among wild birds living in freshwater swamp area were low in numbers in 

 the spring. The expected amplification cycle never developed in the swamp 

 areas. The unusually high amounts of precipitation in June that caused major 

 flooding in the Commonwealth led to a build-up in certain mosquito species com- 

 pared to 1983 but not enough to create the anticipated earlier appearance of the 

 disease this year. 



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