Amelia Island
Mosquito Control District is responsible for controlling and abatement
of mosquitoes within the boundaries of the District. The District includes
Amelia Island, Marsh Lakes and Piney Island. Our organization was founded
December, 1950, by a freeholders election sponsored by the Women's Club
of Fernandina Beach, Florida.
The District uses
an integrated approach to mosquito control. This integrated approach involves
four strategies; water management (ditching, diking, elimination of standing
water), larvaciding (targeting the mosquito larva), adulticiding (targeting
the adult mosquito) and public education / relations. IPM, (integrated
pest management) is the harmonious blend of the before-mentioned strategies.
In the early days,
the District provided mosquito control in the form of opening up old ditches
and creating new ones where appropriate. This would allow mosquito fish
(gambusia affinis) to prey on mosquito larva as well as allowing
District personnel access to these areas. Adulticiding (spraying for adult
mosquitoes) was and still is conducted with truck mounted sprayers. In
the 1950's, 60's and 70's, thermal foggers were used. With new advances
and technologies and new types of sprayers called ULV (ultra low volume),
a precise, very small amount of pesticide is effectively sprayed to control
adult mosquitoes. Environmental and safety concerns are strictly adhered
to when conducting any of our operations.