ISLAND OPERATIONS
Lakes Team Manages Mosquito Abatement
Did you know that there are at least 61 different
types of mosquitoes in South Carolina? Thankfully,
not all of these mosquitoes bite humans. In fact,
male mosquitoes don’t bite at all. Their preference
for nectar means some species are major pollinators
of crops and flowers—even orchids. According
to National Geographic, mosquitoes of all ages
and sexes serve as a food source for all kinds of
creatures, such as fish, turtles, dragonflies, migratory
songbirds, and bats. In this way, mosquitoes are a
foundational part of the ecosystem.
Water is a big factor in mosquito development. Most
of Kiawah’s mosquitoes come from the salt marsh,
low-lying areas where water temporarily pools, or
man-made items that hold water. These can include
birdbaths, rain gutters, and planters — basically
anything that can hold a tablespoon of water for two
weeks.
The mosquito life-cycle starts with a bite; female
mosquitoes require a “blood meal” to produce their
eggs. Afterward, they lay their eggs on pooled water.
In drier weather, females can lay eggs in locations
where water tends to pool, such as dried leaves,
the bases of plants and containers. Once laid, the
eggs will go dormant if there is not enough water
available. Because of this, when water is plentiful,
several different breeding cycles of mosquitoes can
hatch all at once.
KICA’s Lakes Management team is made up of
biologists who tailor their approach to mosquito
abatement to suit the island’s conditions. Lakes
supervisor and biologist Matt Hill is licensed as
a commercial pesticide applicator through the
Clemson Department of Pesticide Regulation,
which is maintained through acquiring continuing
education units, and is also a member of the South
Carolina Mosquito Control Association. The team’s
approach is called integrated pest management
(IPM). IPM requires first assessing the pest situation,
evaluating the merits of pest management options
and then implementing a system of complementary
management actions within a defined area. The
approach can be iterative. Matt points out that “pest
management is always a delicate balance between
human comfort and environmental responsibility.”
The comprehensive mosquito abatement strategy
begins early with larvicide — the team applies
larvicide tablets in the island’s storm drains typically
twice per year, in March and again in August using
a long-term, 150-day tablet. The Lakes team also
treats wet areas after heavy rains using a short-term
30-day tablet in swales, wooded lots, and at the
request of KICA members when standing water is
present. This targeted treatment kills aquatic-stage
mosquitoes; since four of the mosquito’s five life
stages take place in water, this treatment greatly
reduces Kiawah’s mosquito population before it
matures.
April through October, the team monitors mosquito
4 | KIAWAH ISLAND DIGEST