Is Aerial Spraying Really Worth It?

Aerial Spraying for mosquitoes, which may reduce their numbers for a couple of weeks,

also negatively affects the fragile ecosystem
and can kill these…

Our hard-working natural mosquito predators: dragonflies, damselflies, birds, frogs, fish, and lizards
Important pollinators such as butterflies, and honey bees

This website consists of three main sections. Scroll down to view them:

1) Photos taken in and around Kendall, Miami-Dade, Florida, 2008-2009.

2) An example of what happens in South Florida--an official miamidade.gov news release, dated August 28th, 2009, which describes an aerial spraying schedule.

3) Official & technical information on the chemical insecticide being sprayed (Dibrom Concentrate a.k.a. Naled).

1) Photos taken in and around Kendall, Miami-Dade, Florida, 2008-2009

These following photographs show a few of the beneficial creatures found in South Florida.
All are vulnerable due to insecticide spraying against mosquitoes.

The chemical used is called Dibrom. It is indiscriminate and is lethal to both beneficial and problem insects. Unfortunately it is also dangerous to other wildlife and humans.

Click for larger image (Use web browser "previous page" or keyboard "ALT-LeftArrow" to return here)

2) Official Miami-Dade County News Release informing residents of the County's intention to spray

For Immediate Release:
August 28, 2009

Media Contact:
Delfin A. Molins
delfin@miamidade.gov
305-375-1682
305-781-1430

Sandra Fisher
sfisher@miamidade.gov
305-592-1187

MOSQUITO AERIAL SPRAYING SCHEDULED

FOR LOCAL AREA

AUGUST 31, 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 4, 2009

(Miami-Dade County, FL) --

Mosquito aerial spraying at Homestead Air Reserve Base (HARB) and parts of the surrounding area is scheduled to occur during the week of August 31, 2009 through September 4, 2009. The flights are scheduled to take place from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday with Thursday being a back-up day.

Spraying areas will include those parts of the County that are being most affected at that time by increased mosquito activity. Possible areas to be sprayed include Homestead, Florida City, the Redlands, areas East of US1 and if necessary West Kendall and West Doral. Once again, areas to be sprayed will be entirely dependent on where mosquito activity has shown a demonstrable increase at the time of surveillance on Monday August 31.

Residents are advised a large aircraft, the C-130 Hercules will be flying as low as 150 feet over the spray areas to train aircrew and spray Dibrom Concentrate. After spraying, about 90 percent of adult mosquitoes should be killed. The reduction in mosquito populations may last up to two weeks depending on the size of the area sprayed and how favorable conditions are for new mosquito hatches.

Beekeepers are asked to keep their bees covered during the spraying operations in their particular area. Anybody with known allergic reactions should stay indoors.

The 311 call center, which accepts mosquito service requests, is open Monday through Friday, 6 am to 10 pm, and Saturday/Sunday from 8am to 8pm. The call center will be updated with the areas to be sprayed as the information is determined. Residents may call 311 to find out if their area will be included in the spray mission.

# # #

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Stephen P. Clark Center

111 N.W. 1st Street 16th Floor Miami, Florida 33128

(305) 375-2960

3) Official & technical information on the chemical insecticide being sprayed (Dibrom Concentrate a.k.a. Naled)

This chemical is used world-wide, and goes by many different names, which means it is not just affecting the ecosystem in Florida, but the health of the entire planet.

1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichloroethyl dimethyl phosphate;1,2-Dibromo-22-dichloroethyl dimethyl phosphate;2-BROMO-2-PROPENE-1-OL;2-bromoprop-2-en-1-ol;Alvora;Arthodibrom;Bromchlophos;Bromex;Bromex (insecticide) ;Bromex 50;BRP;Dibrom;Dibrom(R) ;Dibromfos;Dimethyl 1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichloroethyl phosphate;Dimethyl-1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichlorethyl phosphate;Dimethyl-1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichloroethyl phosphate;ENT 24988;Ethanol, 1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichloro-, dimethyl phosphate;Flibol Ex;Fosbrom;Fosforan O-1,2-dwubromo-2,2-dwuchloroetylo-O,O-dwumetylowy;Fosforan O-1,2-dwubromo-2,2-dwuchloroetylo-O,O-dwumetylowy [Polish];Hibrom;Naled;Naled [ANSI:BSI:ISO];Naledu;Naledu [Polish];Nikabrom;O,2,2-Dichloro-1,2-dibromoethyl phosphate;O,O-Dimethyl O-2,2-dichloro-1,2-dibromoethyl phosphate;O,O-Dimethyl-O-(1,2-dibrom-2,2-dichlor-aethyl)-phosphat;O,O-Dimethyl-O-(1,2-dibrom-2,2-dichlor-aethyl)-phosphat [German];O,O-Dimethyl-O-(1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichloroethyl) phosphate;O,O-Dimethyl-O-(1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichloroethyl) phosphate;O-(1,2-Dibrom-2,2-dichlor-aethyl)-O,O-dimethyl-phosphat;O-(1,2-Dibrom-2,2-dichlor-aethyl)-O,O-dimethyl-phosphat (GERMAN) ;O-(1,2-Dibrom-2,2-dichlor-aethyl)-O,O-dimethyl-phosphat [German];O-(1,2-Dibromo-2,2-dicloro-etil)-O,O-dimetil-fosfato;O-(1,2-Dibromo-2,2-dicloro-etil)-O,O-dimetil-fosfato (ITALIAN) ;O-(1,2-Dibromo-2,2-dicloro-etil)-O,O-dimetil-fosfato [Italian];O-(1,2-Dibroom-2,2-dichloor-ethyl)-O,O-dimethyl-fosfaat;O-(1,2-Dibroom-2,2-dichloor-ethyl)-O,O-dimethyl-fosfaat (DUTCH) ;O-(1,2-Dibroom-2,2-dichloor-ethyl)-O,O-dimethyl-fosfaat [Dutch];OMS 75;ORTHO 4355;Ortho-dibrom;Orthodibrom;Orthodibromo;Phosphate de O,O-dimethyle et de O-(1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichlorethyle) ;Phosphate de O,O-dimethyle et de O-(1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichlorethyle) (FRENCH) ;Phosphate de O,O-dimethyle et de O-(1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichlorethyle) [French];Phosphoric acid, 1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichloroethyl dimethyl ester;Phosphoric acid, 1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichloroethyl dimethyl ester (8CI) (9CI) RE-4355

Whatever the name, it's still the same bad (CH3O)2P(O)OCHBrCBrCl2 (That strange-looking string of characters is it's chemical formula).

Please take a look at the following annotated excerpt from the Dibrom Concentrate Material Safety Data Sheet, below. To read the complete sheet, go to the manufacturer's website:
http://www.amvac-chemical.com/media/pdf/products/msds/DIBROM_Concentrate_260_10.pdf