Innovative Mosquito Control Programs

By Patrick Linn, MS, MSHAPI
Executive Director, Collier Mosquito Control District

What kind of education does one need to work in mosquito control? The answer, common in this day and age, is that it depends. The Collier Mosquito Control District (CMCD) employs entomologists, biologists, public health experts, pilots, technicians and more. From high school graduate to terminal degree, our team is composed of people with a wide range of skill sets. Formal education, however, is just the beginning.

The complex nature of mosquito biology, disease, and public health, along with its heavily regulated products and methodologies, necessitates significant continuing education for our employees. These efforts not only keep CMCD incompliance with state requirements but also prepare our team to protect our community safely and efficiently from the threats posed by mosquitoes.

Florida requires those who work in mosquito control operations to maintain a Public Health Pest Control license pesticide application certification. On January 15 and 16, the District hosted in-service days featuring a series of hands-on courses to meet the yearly training requirements for these license holders.

The courses covered a wide range of topics from an overview of integrated mosquito management programs to advanced techniques for surveillance and recordkeeping.

The science behind mosquito control is rapidly evolving. The District’s in-service days allowed us to provide enhanced training beyond those required by the state. For example, one of the courses provided detailed education on recognizing and distinguishing between local mosquito species in the field. This is extremely important as there is no one-size-fits-all for mosquito control, and the treatment techniques we use vary byspecies.

In addition to the District’s in-house training, employees also spent the last week of January in Gainesville for the annual Dodd Short courses hosted by the Florida Mosquito Control Association. Beginning in 1984, the Dodd courses feature about 30 topics to enhance Florida’s mosquito control professionals. They also provide the opportunity for mosquito control directors and elected commissioners to collaborate in-person and receive comprehensive training to better serve their respective communities.

While not all control techniques are right for all areas of the state, these trainings allow mosquito control leaders to share and bring innovations back to their home districts and counties for potential implementation. Importantly, the continuing education that goes on behind the scenes empowers the District to make sound treatment decisions and ensure our resources are providing efficient and effective treatments. And that all begins with education and the continual drive to innovate our integrated pest management plan.

Anyone who would like to learn more about mosquito control operations and would like a tour of the lab and other facilities, can request a tour by emailing us at info@cmcd.org

To learn more about the District’s SIT program, visit our website at https://cmcd.org/science/sit/

To learn more about the Florida Mosquito Control Association, visit their website at www.yourfmca.org.

To learn more about the District or to sign up to receive treatment notifications, visit our website at www.cmcd.org.

The Collier Mosquito Control District works to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our residents through the safest and most economical means available. If you would like more information about how we control mosquitoes, please visit our website at cmcd.org or call us 239-436-1000.