More on New York Malathion kill of (fwd)

[Paul Cherubini]

Michael Gochfeld wrote:
> 
>         It is not surprising that those interested in lepidoptera should
> be appalled by the broadcast "mosquito control" spraying programs.
> However, we should also make it clear that it is not simply the relative
> value of controlling mosquitos vs preserving all the non-target species.

Where are the thousands of carcasses of the non-target species Mike? Millions of people live 
in New York City. Dozens of amateur lepidopterists. Hundreds of butterfly enthusiasts. 
How come the only report of several dead butterflies comes from a lone jogger? Is this 
adequate evidence of a "massive" monarch butterfly kill in one of the largest metropolitan 
areas of the world?

> There are two issues that should be addressed:
 
> 1. Risk: someone has alread mentioned that this so-called epidemic
> represents very few cases or deaths.  

Risk to what? What non-target organisms of value have been killed by the Malathion 
spraying?  

> 2. More importantly.  The emphasis on broadcast spraying (which is
> likely to be relatively ineffectual) 

Ineffectual? If it Malathion doesn't adequately kill the target mosquitoes very well, what 
basis is there to believe it will kill significant numbers of non-target insects of value?

> leads people to ignore the truly
> effective ways of preventing themselves from being bitten by mosquitos
> which involve control of breeding places (elimination or treatment of
> standing water), screens, repellent, and staying away from mosquitos.

Have these control measures ever proven to be practical or truly effective in an urban or 
other public health setting? Thousands of New Yorkers can't afford insect repellent let alone 
a place to live and sleep that has screened windows.

> 3.  The notion that spraying insecticides on a broadcast basis is
> innocuous...

A bottle of chlorox contains chlorine - a powerful chemical that will kill almost any living 
creature undiluted out of the bottle. Yet most of us have no problem knowing chlorine is in 
all our tap water - the water we drink, cook and bathe in and the water we use in our 
butterfly gardens. We know from decades of practical experience that the dose makes the 
poison in the case of chlorine.

Ditto for Malathion. After 4-5 decades of mostly successful use in public health pest control, 
we know low doses of Malathion broadcast from the air that are sufficient to kill target 
dipterans will not harm significant numbers of non-target insects or other wildlife of value.
.
Virtually all lepidopterists have years of practical working experience with chlorine and do 
not fear it. But very few have years of experience with Malathion. We fear things we don't 
know about.  For example, I would be nervous going on a tour of a nuclear power plant 
even though I can see hundreds of people working there safely.

Paul Cherubini, Placerville, California