Mosquito Control Commissioner Talks Bugs with Sunrise Rotary

Marco Island’s Sunrise Rotary continued its “Wake Up to Rotary Speaker Series” with a recent presentation by Ed Brandt, Vice Chair of the Collier Mosquito Control Board District. Brandt explained that the Commissioners of the District set policies and that the Mosquito Control District employs a science-based program.

The District serves 730 square miles of Collier County. It collects data through a variety of traps. Trapped mosquitoes are counted and tested for presence of diseases. Larvae are treated by truck, drone, and helicopter. Adult mosquitoes are treated primarily through aerial spraying. The decision to treat is based on analysis of the number of mosquitoes, weather, and any diseases present. Field technicians even visit various stations where they count the number of mosquitoes landing on them. Citizen complaints are also factored into decisions to treat.

Many of the mosquitoes in our area are salt marsh mosquitoes that can travel over 40 miles. Brandt explained that Collier County is an environmentally protected area, and that impacts where spraying can be done. The district has increased use of organic material to reduce any harmful environmental impact.

Brandt is not only a Mosquito Control Commissioner; he is also Senior Pastor at United Church of Marco Island and a retired Brigadier General serving 32 years on active and reserve military duty.

Sunrise Rotary meets at Stonewall’s restaurant Tuesdays at 7:00 AM. Its speaker series continues in September with upcoming presentations scheduled by Jighsa Desai of David Lawrence Centers, Robyn Johnson of The Watermark, Steven Feldman of Books for Collier Kids, and Heather Otis with the Marco Island Historical Society.

For more information about the Sunrise Rotary and its activities, please visit the Rotary Club of Marco Island Sunrise website at www.marcosunriserotary.com.