FMB Mosquito Control celebrates 60 years
Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control will be celebrating 60 years of protecting the community and welcomes everyone to attend an open house at its facility at 300 Lazy Way from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 9.
From dusk to dawn – when the winds are less than 11 miles per hour and not raining – the three-person control unit is spraying the Beach streets when the adult mosquitoes are abundant. But, it’s the behind-the-scenes work that goes unheralded.
Director Sharon Watson, Spray Inspector Supervisor George Rodriguez and Spray Inspector Michael Mills form the investigative and educational team who are all certified to carry a Public Health Pest Control license. They serve under the arm of three commissioners: Henry Rothenberg; Alta Whipple; and Joanne Semmer, who is also certified and boosts the longest tenure of the three, dating back to 1998.
“We do more preventive work on a daily basis than anything else,” said Rodriguez. “Seventy percent of our success here is due simply to cooperation between the community and us. When people leave for the summer, we pull tarps on boats, remind people to dump their buckets and to cover their pools among other things. The last thing we want to do is put chemical down anywhere.
“We have the facility, equipment and the knowledge to get the job done.
We go out and physically check all of the streets on the island.”
FMB Mosquito Control is seven to eight years older than Lee County Mosquito Control, which is regarded as the No. 1 facility in the world.
“A lot of folks don’t realize that Lee County has the largest mosquito control facility in the world, bar none,” said Rodriguez. “It is the most sophisticated, most up-to-dated facility in the world. Our charter is seven or eight years older than Lee County’s charter. Mosquito control was established here first. I guess our founding fore-fathers saw the need for it.
“Residents also should realize that it’s been almost 18 months since Florida was designated the mosquito capital of the world. We deal with mosquitoes on a year-round basis. Hence, we have a lot more education and we take classes on a yearly basis.”
Watson cautions everyone that the spraying doesn’t happen on a phone call basis. The FMB operation has only two trucks to do the job.
“We can’t spray just because someone wants us to spray their area,” she said. “It has to have other things to warrant that like the mosquito count and other things. Lots of time it’s the wind that’s blowing these mosquitoes at us. Lee County takes care of the Back Bay by helicopter. Only if we have an emergency situation, they could be called to help us out.”
Spraying in populated areas -like Times Square- is very difficult. The control unit has to work around the perimeter. Wind also comes into play.
“We are very limited down there,” said Rodriguez. “What we try to do is build a barrier. We work the area diligently from the outside. “
The FMB operation does have the use of technology on its side, and technology has quieted the applications within the past few years. Cold-fusion atomizers is a kinder, gentler methodology.
“We are much more efficient now with updated equipment,” said Watson, who has been the local director for nearly 15 years. “The mist and chemicals are more environmentally friendly, and the atomizer has a flow meter for regulation.”
The two employees do emphasize the word “control” in the businesses’ title.
“Realistically, we can’t eradicate them all,” said Rodriguez. “That’s impossible. We try to control them by reducing the numbers that they produce in our area. Hence, our job is to make it unfavorable to lay their eggs which should kill off the next generation.
“We have the luxury of being a very close-knit community in a sense that there is not a lot of changes, geographically speaking. In this particular facility, we can actually put our foot in almost every square foot of our coverage area. We know the hot spots for them.”
Control also means regulation. The applications involve up to 15 gallons of an adulticide called Biomist and 20-25 gallons of a larvacide called Golden Bear.
The environment and its conditions help to keep mosquitoes in check.
“One of the main concerns is that we’re ever vigilant of not forgetting that it’s taken us over a decade to get the island to where it is at right now,” said Rodriguez. “Hurricanes have helped by clearing out vegetation, but some of the vegetation is coming back.”
Don’t call FMB Mosquito Control about no-see-ums, though.
“We can’t do anything about the no-see-ums,” said Rodriguez. “Unfortunately, it’s the No. 1 question we get here.”
The life of a mosquito
There are four stages of a mosquito’s life cycle: egg; larva; pupa; and adult. “Only the female bites because she needs a blood meal to fertilize the egg,” said Rodriquez. “The male hatches first, though.”
Mosquitoes can lay dormant for up to seven years. The female can lay their eggs upon layers and layers and layers. Mosquito eggs that are laid in standing water can hatch in just a day or two. Some can lay un-hatched for weeks or even months until they are covered with water.
The Beach mosquitoes
Ochlerotatus Taeniorhynehus -more commonly known as the black salt-marsh mosquito- is the species that is most noticeable on Estero Island. It has a flight path up to 50 miles; is an all-day flyer; very adaptable; and breeds in salt and fresh water.
“We caution every pet owner to make sure your pets’ heartworm treatments are up to date,” said Rodriguez. “Heartworm is the known transmitted virus of the Taeniorhynehus mosquito.”
Other potential viruses
“The potential for viruses are always there,” said Watson.
Some mosquito types carry viruses such as St. Louis Encephalitis, Yellow Fever and West Nile disease. However, no mosquito carries the Aids virus.
“The mosquito doesn’t have enough body temperature to keep the Aids disease alive long enough to transmit it,” said Rodriguez. “
The history of FMB Mosquito Control
May 27, 1949 – A petition was signed and approved on showing a desire to establish a mosquito control district to cover Estero Island and San Carlos Island.
July 6, 1949 – At a regular meeting of the Lee County Commissioners, a Notice of Referendum election was followed and the district was given its name.
July 12, 1949 – Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control District is formed. William I. Tooley, Jewel Van Slyke and Travis Cowart were elected commissioners.
July 13, 1949 – FMB Mosquito Control held its first meeting.