counts in each of the island’s 30 zones. Because
mosquitoes go dormant when temperatures drop
below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, adulticide is not
needed in the cooler months. When counts show
that mosquito activity is high, the zone is sprayed
with a mist of adulticide. Spraying is generally done
early in the morning, from 4-6 a.m. with a truckmounted
sprayer. This sprayer is effective over a
300 foot swath from the truck, reaching most of the
island’s inhabited areas.
KICA’s team is licensed and maintains strict
adherence to the protocols outlined in the chemical
application label. This is not only federal law but it
reduces risk. For example, by spraying from 4-6 a.m.,
the team avoids widespread non-target mortality, or
the death of beneficial insects, such as pollinators. It
also largely avoids people and pets. Spraying is not
conducted if winds are higher than 10 mph or if it is
raining, per product label guidelines.
In some cases, the team coordinates with Charleston
County Mosquito Control to conduct aerial spraying.
The county operates both helicopters and airplanes
to deliver adulticide to a wider area. Charleston
County Mosquito Control can also provide
additional support with truck-mounted sprayers, if
needed.
While the team’s strategy greatly reduces the
mosquito presence throughout the island, you may
also wish to reduce the number of mosquitoes
on your private property by employing these best
practices:
• Eliminate standing water on your property
as much as possible. Mosquito eggs hatch in
standing water, and dormant eggs from past
breeding cycles can hatch in water allowed to
stand in birdbaths, buckets or other areas. An
amount of water as small as a tablespoon can be
a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Use a propane-based mosquito trap. Mosquitoes
are drawn to CO2, which is the reason they
often hover around your face. Propane-based
mosquito traps, which give off a small amount
of CO2, do not use pesticides and only attract
mosquitoes, eliminating non-target mortality.
These traps are widely available on Amazon and
in hardware stores.
Many property owners have taken an additional
step by installing mosquito misting systems of their
own. Once banned on the island, these systems
have the potential to play a part in IPM when they
are used properly. It’s best to have a licensed pest
control service oversee the system. As with mosquito
spraying done by KICA’s professionals, a misting
system should not be run during the day when it is
likely to kill other beneficial insects, such as bees,
dragonflies and butterflies. Systems run during the
day can also have adverse effects on people and pets.
Make sure to run your mosquito misting system
with these best practices in mind:
• Don’t spray during the day — you’re likely to
miss adult mosquitoes and kill beneficial insects
instead. Aim for 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. During these
hours, you are more likely to kill mosquitoes
without adversely affecting other wildlife.
• Always follow the label directions for chemical
application. Many products are not labeled for
use if wind is higher than 10 mph or if it’s
raining. You should not run your misting system
if these conditions occur.
• Consider your neighbors. Mist from these
systems can drift onto the properties of your
Kiawah neighbors, potentially harming people,
pets and wildlife. This risk is reduced if you limit
spraying to nighttime hours or inform neighbors
before you spray.
• Consult a professional before using a misting
system at an ocean- or marsh-front home. Using
pesticides over or near water can be toxic to fish,
amphibians, invertebrates and detrimental to
environmentally-sensitive areas.
• Consider turning the system off when you’re
not on the property. While they are annoying,
mosquitoes are an important part of Kiawah’s
ecosystem. If they are not having a direct impact
on your experience, it is best to do nothing. A
big part of Kiawah’s ethos is built on leaving
as little impact as possible on our beautiful
surroundings.
If you have a question or concern, you can contact
the Lakes Management team at [email protected].
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