Page 4 - Jupiter Ocean Mile - August '23

Page 4, Jupiter Ocean Mile
Northern Notes

Midges – Those Pesky Insects! Midges and mosquitoes are often mistaken for each Midges have become a prevalent pest over the last
other, which makes sense given that both belong to the few years due to several key factors:
By Katie Roundtree, order Diptera. The largest difference between the two is 1. The number of developments that require stormwater
Director of Finance and that mosquitoes have a proboscis, a mouthpart used to bite systems to prevent flooding has increased.
Administration, Northern and suck blood. Midges do not, and do not bite humans. 2. High nutrient loads in deep stormwater systems is
Palm Beach County Otherwise, most of the differences visible to the eye are ideal for midge breeding.
Improvement District found in the fine details. 3. Low dissolved oxygen levels are factors found in
Blind mosquitoes, Midges have the following characteristics: deep lakes.
phantom midges, aquatic • When landed, fold their first leg pair in a “prayer” So, what do we do about them? Chemical treatments
midges, no-see-ums – call position (which can be mistaken for antennae) by a licensed contractor, where applicable, for both larval
them what you will, when • Have long tarsi of foot portions of the forelegs and adult stages can provide temporary and expensive
they hatch, you’ll know it! • Lack scales on their wings, making them smooth relief. To get to the root of the problem, the amount of
If you live on or near a Mosquitoes have the following characteristics: nutrients going into waterbodies must be reduced. This
retention pond or similar • When landed, hold their second/back leg pair in the air can be achieved by utilizing best management practices
body of water in Florida, chances are you are familiar with • Have scaly wings with a light fringe on their tips while applying fertilizers and managing inflows to the
large swarms of flying insects that inundate your house, • Typically, don’t form swarms stormwater system. Adding oxygen to the stormwater
yard, and screen room periodically throughout the year, Aquatic midges breed in habitats such as ponds, lakes, system with diffusers and aerators will improve the health
especially in warmer climates such as Texas and Florida. wastewater treatment plants, and areas with nutrient rich of lakes and ponds by increasing dissolved oxygen. By
Midge flies belong to a very large and diverse family water. Midge flies are a food source for other aquatic addressing these contributing factors, hatch offs can be
of aquatic insects. Midges are small, dainty flies with one insects, such as dragonfly nymphs and several varieties greatly reduced. You may want to try lowering your light
pair of long, narrow wings, and long, skinny legs. While of fish, so the goal is not to completely eliminate them, output at night so the midges are less attracted to your
often thought of as the “cousin” of mosquitoes, midges but to keep them in proper balance within the ecosystem. area. Home barrier chemical sprays may also offer some
don’t bite, sting, suck blood or transmit disease. They can, Areas that receive an excess of lawn fertilizer runoff and temporary relief.
however, become a terrible nuisance and trigger allergies very deep, organic lakes tend to be densely populated with Thank you to Solitude Lake Management for courtesy
or respiratory issues. midges, particularly with phantom midges. The juvenile photo and article contributions.
stages of development occurs in the water and, upon NPDES tip: Your neighborhood drainage system
hatching, large swarms of adults congregate on surfaces is not a garbage disposal – don’t treat it like one.
of buildings, screens, shrubs, etc. Encourage residents to take responsibility and to not
These hatches create severe nuisance problems as they are dump chemicals, fertilizer, paint, oil, etc., in inlets or
attracted to light. Spiders form webs in the eaves and around pipes. Discourage sweeping of lawn clippings and dirt
homes to catch midges resulting in excessive cleaning and into street drains and disposing of lawn clippings and
expense. Midges can get caught up in air-conditioning units other debris (wood, concrete blocks, Christmas trees, etc.)
and cause failure to the unit. Some residents in Florida have directly into retention lakes. Keep drainage facilities clear
complained that allergies and asthma attacks have increased of vegetation, trash, improperly and illegally discarded
during large midge hatch offs. appliances, shopping carts, tires, cars, garbage bags, etc.
LMC’s Director Of Research Wins

Sea Turtle Week’s 2023 ‘Scientist Of The Year’ Contest

Dr. Justin Perrault, the “As scientists, we put in the hard work because we
director of research at love our jobs and the species we work to protect. Sea
Loggerhead Marinelife turtles become a part of our identities,” said Perrault. “I
Center (LMC), was selected am honored to have been chosen for this award and will
as Sea Turtle Week’s continue to further conservation efforts of our sea turtles
2023 Audience Choice on our local beaches.”
winner for “Scientist of For his selection as the Audience Choice Winner,
the Year.” Celebrated Perrault received a $500 prize that will be allocated
annually, Sea Turtle Week toward his sea turtle rehabilitation and conservation
highlights individuals projects at LMC.
working on important, For more information, visit seaturtleweek.com.
About Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC)
groundbreaking, and novel Justin Perrault > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC
projects that advance our Loggerhead Marinelife Center, located in Loggerhead
understanding of sea turtles and their conservation. Park, Juno Beach, Fla., is a sea turtle research,
Before votes became open to the public, Perrault was rehabilitation, education, and conservation center. The
selected as one of four finalists by Sea Turtle Week’s Justin Perrault holding a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle center also manages the Juno Beach Pier across the
international panel of judges made up of sea turtle street from the park. Established in 1983, LMC seeks
conservationists and scientists. The judges evaluated peers and organizations, and the inclusion of diversity in to promote conservation of ocean ecosystems with a
Perrault’s overall impact of his research on sea turtle his research. special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles.
conservation and management, his collaboratation with Perrault’s leadership at the center’s research department has Its facilities include a sea turtle hospital, a research
contributed to one of the most comprehensive sea turtle data laboratory, and exhibit areas, including live sea turtles
sets, enabling evidence-based conservation that contributes and other coastal creatures.
to the recovery of local and global sea turtle populations.
His research aims to understand the effects of humans on the Photos courtesy of Loggerhead Marinelife Center
health, reproduction, and survival of sea turtles.
> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

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