Spring 2018 Newsletter
Quarterly Newsletter and Updates Spring 2018
We've Upgraded!
In January we launched the new look of our website. It is easier to navigate with the most accessed. If you need to request service or report a dead bird we have convenient links right on the front page. Our programs page also give some insight on what we do here at the District and the methods we use for mosquito abatement.
MVCAC Annual Conference
The District was well represented at the 86th Annual Conference of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) held at the end of January in Monterey, CA. District staff and seasonal employees contributed eight research presentations (3 talks and 5 posters). Topics addressed insecticide resistance, mosquito abundance, genomic sequencing, equipment modifications, and technology upgrades. Written reports of the presentations will be submitted to the Proceedings of MVCAC for publishing.
JAMCA Publishing
ACMAD published a research article in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association showing that a redesigned mosquito trap collected more invasive Aedes mosquitoes compared to traditional traps (Dereje Alemayehu, Trinidad Reyes, and Eric J. Haas-Stapleton (2018) Field Evaluation of a Redesigned Oviposition Trap to Monitor Gravid Invasive Aedes Mosquitoes in a Suburban Environment. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association: March 2018, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 67-69). The outcome of this research was the integration of the new trap design into the invasive Aedes monitoring program for Alameda County, which consists of over 700 of these traps.
Sarah goes to Kansas City
In an effort to recruit and retain qualified professionals to the mosquito control field, the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) started the AMCA Young Professionals (YPs). A YP is anyone in the industry with five years’ experience or less. One of the opportunities available to the YPs is the Industry Shadowing Program (ISP), which allows YPs to attend the AMCA annual conference with the financial support of a sponsor.
This year our very own Mosquito Control Technician, Sarah, was one of fifteen YPs selected to participate in the ISP. Her sponsor was Leading Edge, the company that provides our new database services. Sarah was very involved in the implementation of the database, so Leading Edge was pleased to have her present in their booth and workshop at the conference.
As a part of the AMCA YPs, Sarah had the opportunity to attend additional functions including the YP Pre-Conference Workshop, YP Dinner, YP Symposium, YP Social, and several volunteer opportunities. Sarah chose to volunteer for Education Day, which is dedicated to teaching kids about mosquitoes. Every year the AMCA selects a school near the conference to host this event. This year it was Primivito Garcia Elementary School which has about three-hundred students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
The ISP and YP programs were extremely educational with many networking opportunities. Sarah is extremely happy that she had the opportunity to attend.
West Nile Virus
As the weather in California begins to heat up, mosquitoes capable of transmitting WNV become active. As such, the state West Nile virus, dead bird, and mosquito hotline, (877-WNV-BIRD) will be staffed with live operators starting Monday, April 16th. Reports can still be submitted online year-round at http://www.westnile.ca.gov/report_wnv.php. California's WNV activity is updated weekly and can be found at www.westnile.ca.gov.