January 2020
Register TODAY for the 2020
AMCA Annual Meeting!!
The 86th Annual Meeting of the American Mosquito Control Association, will be held at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon from March 16 - March 20, 2020. This meeting will consist of educational sessions and exhibits that illustrate and highlight the latest science, technology and products used to conduct research and control vectors. The meeting will also provide ample opportunities to network with vector control professionals, researchers and educators from around the world during multiple social events.

Register Early and Save!
Early bird deadline: February 20, 2020
AMCA Response To Study Linking Pyrethroid Exposure to Increased Cardiovascular Mortality
A recent study, “Association Between Exposure to Pyrethroid Insecticides and Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in General U.S. Adult Population (Wei Bao,MD, PhD; Buyun Liu, MD, PhD; DerekW. Simonsen; Hans-Joachim Lehmler, PhD from the University of Iowa College of Public Health).” published online in December 30, 2019 in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine purports to demonstrate a link between pyrethroid exposure and increased mortality from cardiovascular disease. 

The Pyrethroid Working Group, an industry alliance comprised of the following companies: AMVAC Chemical; BASF Corporation; Bayer CropScience; FMC Corporation; Syngenta Crop Protection; and Valent U.S.A. LLC., reviewed the article and provided a preliminary rebuttal, whose points are posted below. 

  • The analysis did not account for family history of cardiovascular disease – even though genetics represent one of the most significant factors for CVD. 

  • The study relied on self-reporting for key variables that are known to contribute to CVD-related mortality, such as smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity. Potential recall biases in self-assessments such as these can severely impact results. 

  • There was no definitive exposure determination in the study. The metabolite used as an indicator is also found in the environment as a plant and environmental degradate and is not itself of concern. 

  • The determination was also based on a single urine spot sample, which cannot support conclusions on long-term exposure and does not adjust for factors such as body weight and sex. 
  • The study results do not align with the significant body of evidence that does not show these effects, even at extremely high exposure levels.

The fact is pyrethroids are registered by the EPA after careful consideration of the potential environmental and human effects of these products. The registration of all pesticide products undergoes regular review every 15 years (and the pyrethroids are undergoing a 15-year review now) to refine risk assessments in light of current data. To date, the overwhelming preponderance of evidence demonstrates that pyrethroids pose minimal risk to humans if used according to label specifications. 

In addition, the AMCA also has scientific experts in experimental design and statistical inference reviewing the study to further comment on the study. The AMCA will post additional information as it becomes available.
ESA Subcommittee Update
In 2019, the AMCA ESA subcommittee was closely monitoring the submission of two petitions to the United States FWS for the listing of the Bethany Beach Firefly (Delaware) and the Gulf Coast Solitary bee (Florida and Alabama) under the Endangered Species act. As a first step in the listing process, the USFWS assesses the merits of the petition and then decides whether action may or may not be warranted. Unfortunately, both petitions contained inaccurate information about the operations and practices of mosquito control organizations where these two species are found.

The AMCA ESA subcommittee and Technical Advisor Joe Conlon drafted a series of letters to correct the record with regards to mosquito control operations. In December of 2019, both petitions were determined to warrant further action. For the Bethany Beach Firefly and Gulf Coast Solitary Bee, the endangered species listing process has now begun. Encouragingly, the AMCA was able to correct the inaccuracies in at least one petition. As the USFWS stated, “The petitioner claimed that private and public land managers in Florida counties where the Gulf Coast solitary bee occurs regularly apply pesticides to standing water to control mosquito larvae using spraying methods (Hunsberger 2013, p. 82) and may use spraying techniques to control adults in Okaloosa County (Okaloosa County 2015, p. 1). However, a letter from the American Mosquito Control Association (2019, pp. 1–2) clarified that aerial control applications for mosquito larvae are not conducted in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties and spraying for adults in Okaloosa County is only conducted when a public health emergency has been declared. The letter further indicated that larval mosquito applications are unlikely to be conducted in the same habitat as the bee and host plant.”

The recognition of the AMCA’s letter at such an early stage of the listing process (i.e. before solicitation of public comments) is a positive development. Petitions and responses from the USFWS become public record. It is important to correct misinformation before it becomes a “fact” and in the case of the Gulf Coast Solitary bee this outcome was achieved. The ESA subcommittee remains focused on providing accurate information to regulators about mosquito control practices.

In another endangered species act development, the USFWS has published a proposal for recovery of the Rusty Patched Bumblebee. For those who are not familiar with this listing, in 2017 this species became the first bumblebee to be listed under the ESA. In essence, the recovery plan would see this species restored to many parts of its former range, possibly through reintroductions. The plan would also determine “pesticide load” as a threshold for determining whether a population of this bee is “healthy”. Many details about the plan remain undetermined. The USFWS is soliciting public comments on this plan until Feb. 24th. The ESA subcommittee is closely examining the implications of this plan for mosquito control agencies throughout the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states and will prepare comments if necessary.
The Winter Newsletter is Now Available!


Click below to read the most up to date news from AMCA Officers, Regional Directors, and Committee Chairs. All website and email address links within the content are live so click away!
The Journal of the American
Mosquito Control Association
Click here to access the JAMCA Open Access website.
Journal Contributors :
Interested in submitting an article to a future issue of the JAMCA? For more information on how to submit,
Past Issues:
Issues published 2005-2017 will continue to be offered to members only through BioOne . Issues published 1969-2004 will still be offered to members only through Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Thank you to our current sponsors!
Register for the AMCA 22nd Annual
Washington Conference!
Meet. Learn . Educate. 
 
Join us on May 12-13, 2020 at The Hilton Alexandria Old Town Hotel in Washington, DC.

Learn about critical legislative issues facing mosquito control and visit with elected officials to give our field a voice on Capitol Hill.
REGISTRATION: 
  • Member Rate: $70
  • Non-member Rate: $90
  • Guest Tickets: $25 each
FEATURED ITEM OF THE MONTH!
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUP
Anyone with 5 years or less experience in a mosquito-related field (student, mosquito control, government, industry, etc) is eligible to join!
Want to join the AMCA Young Professionals Group?
2020 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES!
AMCA offers many options for advertising and sponsorships. We encourage you to take advantage of these exciting opportunities to get your company or entity's name and message across to more than 1,600 AMCA members as well as the general public.


WEBINAR SPONSORSHIP

$1,600 per webinar: AMCA webinars are live, 1-hour, web-based seminars that cover the latest industry hot-topics. Sponsors of webinars receive recognition during the promotion of the webinar via email, website, and during the presentation.
Sponsor benefits include:

  • -Promotional emails for the webinar which include sponsor acknowledgement.
  • AMCA will display sponsor logo on the webinar platform for duration of the webinar. Sponsor to provide company logo.No product names or product logos may be used.
  • Webinar moderator will thank the sponsor at the beginning and end of the presentation.
  • AMCA and/or speaker may use a disclaimer statement indicating that neither party endorses a specific product.


WEBSITE SPONSORSHIP

Homepage Banner: $900 for 3 months
A sponsor provided banner ad will be showcased on the homepage of the new mosquito.org homepage. Sponsor message will remain on the homepage for 3 months and will link to the sponsors website. Size: 728x90

Website Sponsor: $2,100
Sponsor logo will appear at the bottom of the mosquito.org website for the full calendar year. Receive visibility all year round!


NEWSLETTER SPONSORSHIP

Sponsor logo will appear at the bottom of the mosquito.org website for the full calendar year. Receive visibility all year round!

Mosquito Monthly E-Newsletter : $1,100 | 1 per month
Monthly, AMCA distributes Mosquito Monthly, an electronic newsletter showcasing the latest member news of the AMCA. Each issue features a Young Professional Spotlight.


JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION (JAMCA)

With the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association (JAMCA) now being published in online open access format, journal advertising is also currently available in an online only format! The journal is accessible to the public and free of charge. Have your message seen beyond the 1,500 AMCA membership. For more information on journal ad packages and pricing, please go here .


If you are interested in any of AMCA's sponsorship opportunities, email amca@mosquito.org or call (888) 626-0630. Sponsorship is offered on a 
"first come first served" basis.
Thank you to our sponsor: