New Jersey Mosquito Control Association
SUPPORTING MOSQUITO CONTROL SINCE 1913
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FunctionsThe objectives and purposes of the association shall be to promote and encourage close cooperation among those directly and indirectly concerned with, or interested in, mosquito control and related work, the stimulation of educational activities to increase the knowledge of mosquito control and the advancement of the cause of mosquito control and related environmental concerns in the State of New Jersey and elsewhere. The association may also encourage such other insect control programs as the association or board of trustees may determine. The Association's (NJMCA) primary goal is to promote, encourage, develop and record safe, effective and environmentally sound mosquito control activities n order to protect the health and welfare of the citizens of New Jersey, and to make this information available to all who may be interested or concerned with mosquito control activities.
HistoryMosquitoes plagued mankind long before history records their annoying and painful interference with daily activities. Thousands of years passed before it was learned that mosquitoes carry diseases that have killed countless millions of people, changing the course of history many times. Early settlers of North America faced many hardships. Chief among indigenous afflictions was malarial fever which is said to have caused more anguish than the threat of Indians. In New Jersey, historians are not sure whether it was mosquitoes or the British who drove the Swedes from the state. Window screens, introduced in the 1880's, were called "the most humane contribution the 19th century made to the preservation of sanity and good temper." Mosquito borne yellow fellow was known as the American plague since it had struck the bay colony in 1647. Yellow Fever also decimated Philadelphia in 1793, thus ending that city's supremacy in the young union. Approximately, the disease was stamped out by an American, Dr. Walter Reed, an army surgeon who in 1900 with a team of heroic assistants traced its source to a virus carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This eliminated, almost in a single blow, one of the scourges of mankind. With many pieces of the puzzle of the mosquito's life cycle and disease transmission coming together at the turn of this century, organized, multi-disciplinary mosquito control became possible. New Jersey had many citizens and local governments interested in a crusade against the mosquito. Dr. J. B. Smith, N.J. State Entomologist, did extensive research on the types of mosquitoes in the state and their life cycles. Considerable public debate was given to the question whether mosquitoes could ever be controlled. Mosquito control operations grew in some towns but not in all towns. Newspaper battles raged when it was painfully noted that mosquitoes ignored municipal and even state borders. Local boards of health funded most of the extermination work. Laws in 1906 required support for local efforts from the state experiment station. Another law in 1912 directed the creation of county mosquito extermination commissions to assure full time mosquito control. With an increase in mosquito control workers and their rapid progress, it became clear that an organization was needed within which these workers could discuss their problems and share their experiences. In 1913, a statewide organization, the New Jersey Mosquito Extermination Association (NJMEA), was first established in Trenton at which time there were delegates from several of the county commissions who were present and the concept of an annual meeting/convention was called for by the Essex County Commission and Mr. Thomas Headlee. At the same time, Mr. Ralph H. Hunt of East Orange was named as President pro tem of this new organization. A convention of county commissions was planned and held on February 20 & 21, 1914 at the Hotel Traymore in Atlantic City. Mr. Hunt presided. On the last day of the meeting, a Committee on Permanent Organization presented a Constitution which was approved. The first slate of officers and executive committee members at large were elected as follows:
The annual meeting of the Association continues as a forum for New Jersey and national experts and workers to present ideas on funding and efficiency, reporting scientific results, questions and operational successes that could benefit others. The proceedings of these meetings are distributed and referenced worldwide. The Association draws on the collective efforts of all its members and those in related fields. The executive committee has even notified commissions when improvements were needed to protect neighboring counties. The results of work and research can be successful or unsuccessful but all information is of use. Mosquito control methods have evolved and this process has been enhanced by the association. Recognizing a national agenda for mosquito control, 15 leaders of NJMCA and 10 colleagues from other states created the Eastern Association of Mosquito Control Workers at Trenton in 1935. In 1944 EAMCW was renamed the American Mosquito Control Association, the paramount organization in the field today. A special meeting of the membership was held on August 14, 1974 at which point the "NJMEA" was officially terminated and the incorporation of the organization with the new name of "New Jersey Mosquito Control Association, Inc." was unanimously approved. Today the NJMCA continues to lead the way to modern, professional mosquito control headed into the 21st century.
Reasons for Mosquito ControlReasons for mosquito control are many and varied. Public opinion being so diverse, ranging from the "I can't stand one bite" to "leave them alone as part of nature", has made it necessary for scientists, health officials and regulators to pass certain laws for protection of humans and their domestic animals from mosquitoes. There are four major reasons for control:
Executive Committee and Officers
Click to view a list of past presidents. TrusteesClick on an agency to go to their home page.
PESPThis "Partnership Strategy Document" for USEPA's Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) has been developed by the New Jersey Mosquito Control Association (NJMCA), a sustaining member organization and affiliate of the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA).
Chapter VII of the AMCA Partnership Strategy Document provides for qualified member organizations to attain PESP partnership status under the auspices of AMCA. NJMCA is the oldest ongoing professional association of mosquito control workers in the United States and heartily endorses the concept of a PESP. This document and accompanying appendices describe the current status of mosquito control activities in New Jersey. The document also details our use of an Integrated Pest Management approach to controlling mosquitoes that is consistent with the goals of the PESP.
We, the members of NJMCA, have been stewards of the environment for more than 8 decades. This platform gives us an opportunity to tell our story, establish goals for the future and create parameters for measuring achievable PESP milestones.
Read the NJMCA PESP document
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