UMass Extension’s Tick and Mosquito Education Days are coming! And so is peak tick and mosquito season in Massachusetts…
This 2-day virtual webinar series will call upon topic experts to provide information about the seasonality, biology, and the diseases these organisms vector, as well as how to manage these pests and steps you can take to protect yourself.
Recommended for landscape and turf professionals, arborists, tree wardens, urban foresters, foresters, land managers, and any professionals or individuals working outside as well as public health officials and property owners in Massachusetts.
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:10 PM featuring two topics each day with a 10 minute break between topics.
TUESDAY, JUNE 8: TICK TOPICS
10:00 – 11:00 AM: Tick Management in the Landscape
Larry Dapsis, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
An overview of current tick management tactics being employed, including techniques that have not been proven to be effective, as well as an exploration of tactics under development.
11:10 AM – 12:10 PM: The Outreach Hiker’s Guide to Tick-ology: Personal tick bite prevention and more!
Blake Dinius, Plymouth County Extension
Do you spend more time off your property than on it? Maybe you want to know more about how to protect yourself beyond typical yard management? We will review basic tick biology and the effective personal protection methods used to exploit tick vulnerabilities. With the right knowledge and tools, tick-borne diseases are preventable!
TUESDAY, JUNE 15: MOSQUITO TOPICS
10:00 - 11:00 AM: Mosquitoes in Massachusetts, Arboviruses and Protecting Yourself
Dr. Jennifer Forman Orth, MA Dept. of Agricultural Resources
This presentation will discuss the basics of state-based mosquito control operations in Massachusetts, the mosquito-borne diseases common in the region and the mosquito species that carry them, and the biology and habitats of these mosquitoes. How we can use this knowledge to protect ourselves, including use of personal protection while working outdoors, will also be discussed.
11:10 AM – 12:10 PM: Dealing With the Asian Tiger Mosquito: Incorporating an Invasive Species into an Existing Mosquito Control Program
Priscilla Matton, Superintendent, Bristol County Mosquito Control Project
This presentation will provide an overview of the Bristol County Mosquito Control Project's recent management efforts, the species of mosquitoes and disease prevention they focus on, and how they are dealing with an invasive mosquito (the Asian tiger mosquito) in their area.
Credits
Pesticide credit: 2 pesticide contact hours per day approved for categories 29, 35, 36, 37, 48 and Applicators (core) license. In addition, 2 category 46 and 47 pesticide contact hours approved for June 15: Mosquito Topics. These credits are valid for all New England states for equivalent categories.
Association credits: Per day, 1 education & 2 safety MCLP credits; 1 education & 2 safety MCA credits; 1 MCH credit; 2 ISA; and 2 (cat 2) SAF credits available.
To participate via GoToWebinar, attendees will need a computer or other device with a reliable Internet connection and speakers. While a smartphone can be used, it's not advised - the small screen size makes it difficult to view the slides and/or answer the poll questions, which are necessary to provide proof of attendance and receive pesticide credit.