Successful handover of mosquito eradication programme

October marked the handover of the southern saltmarsh mosquito (Ochlerotatus camptorhynchus) eradication programme from the Ministry of Health to Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ).


'JR' Gardner (Ministry of Health), passes on
the 'mozzie dipper' to Don Hammond
(Biosecurity New Zealand)

The passing of responsibilities was marked when JR Gardner, the Ministry of Health’s Senior Adviser for Biosecurity, passed on the ‘official mozzie dipper’ to Don Hammond, Biosecurity New Zealand’s new Programme Operations Controller, at the Wairau Lagoons in early October.

The programme transfer fulfilled the Government’s Biosecurity Strategy of having BNZ accountable for all eradication programmes.

The southern saltmarsh mosquito (SSM) programme began in 1999, and the mosquito has been successfully eradicated from locations at Napier, Haumoana, Porangahau, Mahia, Gisborne, Whitford, Mangawhai and Whangaparaoa. These successes are significant in that SSM eradication had never been attempted in any other part of the world. Eradication programmes are continuing in the Kaipara, Lake Grassmere and the Wairau Lagoons.

Following the discovery of SSM in the Coromandel in April this year, the Government has approved funding for an eradication programme there. This activity will be reviewed at the end of the 2006–2007 financial year.

The eradication utilises S-methroprene, an insect growth regulator to which SSM is ultra sensitive. The compound is delivered as a coated granule of sand, dispersed onto the SSM habitat using aerial (helicopter) and ground delivery (backpacking and quad bikes). In the water column, the concentration of S-methroprene is less than one part per billion.

Used this way, the product does not affect non-target species. It interferes with the mosquito’s pupa development so adults do not emerge.

Southern Monitoring Services, trading as New Zealand BioSecure, is the primary contractor. The company has the resources to support the operations and over the past six years has acquired extensive experience in conducting mosquito surveillance and eradication programmes.

Don Hammond, Biosecurity New Zealand’s operations manager for the programme, has also had extensive experience in dealing with invertebrate and other biosecurity pests.

Page last updated: 30 April 2008