Get your DEET on

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Solomon Cook
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The phrase, "It's like ants at a picnic," is common and well known. At Tyndall and surrounding areas, there may be a better phrase, "It's like mosquitoes anywhere."

Mosquito season typically starts in April lasting until standing water has dried. To combat the mosquito threat, members of the 325th Civil Engineering Squadron works in tandem with the 325th Aerospace Medical Squadron to keep mosquitoes at bay.

"The season usually starts in April," said Bob Bushway, J and J Worldwide Pest Control pest control supervisor. "Weather plays a big part. When the rainy season starts, it creates a lot of standing water, and this is where the mosquitoes breed."

When this occurs, professionals at Community Health conduct tests around standing water to determine mosquito species and populations.

"There are a variety of mosquitoes found here at Tyndall; some of the most common mosquitoes we trap are Anopheles, Culex, Aedes, and Psorophora," said Tech. Sgt. Tanisha Spencer, 325th AMDS NCO in charge of community health "Depending on the time of the year, there can be a prevalence of one type of mosquito in a certain season. It mostly depends on the behavior of the specific type of mosquito. For example, Psorophora columbiae mosquitoes thrive in floodwater, so they are more prevalent after heavy rainfall."

Mosquito trapping on Tyndall is done twice per month between April and November.

"After trapping mosquitoes and freezing them for 24 hours, Public Health technicians sort the mosquitoes," Spencer said. "After identifying all female mosquitoes, samples of 20 to 40 mosquitoes are shipped to Dr. Will Reeves, an entomologist at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. He identifies the species of mosquito and tests for West Nile, Saint Louis, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis viruses."

After reports come back from Wright Patterson's entomology lab, the report is forwarded to the 325th CES pest management, and their office is in charge of spraying the areas identified, Spencer added.

"The larva stage is the best time to eradicate mosquitoes, and we do this with biological control containing Bactimos Briquets," Bushway said. "After the larval stage we disperse a chemical via our fogger truck. The chemical is dispersed at a rate of 25.73 microns with a London Fog unit mounted in a truck. It goes out in minute droplets and isn't considered dangerous, however, we do turn the spray off when we approach joggers or individuals. We start our fogging schedule at 5 a.m."

Mosquito bites can cause skin irritation and in serious cases become a health concern.

"When someone is bit by a mosquito, they will develop soft bumps on the skin that may be red or pink, which is accompanied with itching." Spencer said. "More severe reactions include: lesions, a large area of itching, hives, lymphangitis and anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening. If you have any severe reaction to a mosquito bite, you should seek medical attention immediately."

During the mosquito season there are some helpful tips for individuals to avoid being bit.

When outside:

· Wearing DEET on the skin or Permethrin spray on clothing
· Wear long sleeve loose clothing
· Take extra care during peak mosquito biting hours which are dusk and dawn
· Mosquito proof the home by installing or repairing screens for windows and doors and also use air conditioning
· Get rid of standing water around the home, including empty flower pots, old tires, gutters, buckets, pool covers and pet water dishes/bird baths

Team Tyndall can depend on these two teams, 325th CES and 325th AMDS, to continue keeping the mosquito population in check so Airmen can continue their jobs and their off duty time, mosquito free.

"We have airmen out on the flight line trying to prepare jets for take-off and they are being bothered by mosquitoes, Bushway said. "It's not good. When we come by with the fogger and Airmen give us a thumbs up we know you are helping. It makes me feel really good, being retired military, to know I can still help the mission."