South Carolina Category 8 Commercial Applicator Bundle - Mosquito Control

This course bundle is designed for the South Carolina Commercial Applicator. The course bundle contains 10 continuing education units (CEUs) of training approved by the South Carolina Department of Pesticide Regulation. Courses focus on mosquito control and pesticide safety related topics. Please click on course details for a list of specific courses.

BUNDLE CONTENTS

Category 8

  • Intro to Mosquito Control – 2 CEUs
  • Mosquito Management and Control – 2 CEUs
  • Setting up a Mosquito Control Program – 1 CEU
  • Public Health Pest Control – 3 CEUs

Pesticide Safety (Core)

  • Balancing Pest Management and Pollinator Health – 2 CEUs

 


Intro to Mosquito Control

Course Description

Mankind has been battling mosquitoes since before the first settlers landed on the continent. Mosquitoes are vectors for a multitude of diseases that are harmful to humans, livestock, and pets. To effectively manage a mosquito population as part of an integrated pest management plan applicators must be familiar with mosquito physiology, the lifecycle of the mosquito, and various collection and surveillance methods for both adult mosquitoes and larvae. It is also important to have a good understanding of the diseases that are commonly vectored by mosquitoes. The course will talk about surveillance methods, mosquito anatomy, and touch on the diseases that are most commonly vectored by mosquitoes in the United States.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

  • Describe the different stages in the mosquito lifecycle.
  • Explain the differences between male and female mosquitoes.
  • Suggest different surveillance and collection tactics to efficiently trap mosquitoes in the target area.
  • List and describe several commonly mosquito vectored diseases.

Mosquito Management & Control 

Course Description

Mosquito management is a daunting task for many applicators. When done correctly, outdoor areas such as parks and neighborhood common areas can be a perfect place for people to relax. When mosquito management is done incorrectly or isn’t done at all, mosquitoes can make public spaces unusable. This course will discuss common methods of mosquito controls, everything from physical controls, to pesticides, to record keeping, all as part of a solid integrated pest management approach to mosquito control.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

  • Discuss the different types of control methods for managing mosquito populations.
  • Discuss the different types of insecticides available for both larval and adult control of mosquitoes.
  • Identify and describe the different kinds of equipment commonly used for mosquito control pesticide applications.
  • Discuss several ways to evaluate the efficacy of the different mosquito control methods implemented.

Setting up a Mosquito Control Program

Course Description

Mosquito control programs manage the population of mosquitoes to reduce their damage to human health. Mosquito control is a vital public-health practice as mosquitoes are the number one vector of disease globally, spreading many diseases such as Malaria, West Nile virus, Dengue Fever, and Yellow Fever. Besides, mosquitoes can cause significant pain, irritation, and infection from their bites, which are a considerable nuisance. Taught by Mississippi State University’s Jerome Goddard Ph.D., Extension Professor of Medical Entomology, this course outlines mosquito control’s components, methods, benefits, and complexities.

After completing this course users will be able to:

  • Outline strategies for mosquito control.
  • Justify the need for mosquito pest control, including surveillance, trapping, and spraying.
  • Identify problem areas for mosquito management such as public objections and environmental protection efforts.

Public Health Pest Control

Course Description

Public health pests affect humans through discomfort and disease and can be found in homes and other buildings and structures. This course will outline control techniques and requirements for the most common public health pests which includes mosquitoes, flies, fleas, lice, bed bugs, cockroaches, wasps, ticks, mites, spiders, and rodents.

After completing this course users will be able to:

  • Distinguish between disease risks, how they transferred, symptoms, and techniques to avoid exposure.
  • Analyze the biology, signs, and behavior of each pest to identify the source of damage in the field.
  • Evaluate the best IPM control techniques for the type of pest, environment, and situation.

Balancing Pest Management and Pollinator Health

Course Description

Balancing the need to manage agricultural pests with pollinator health is dependent on cooperation between beekeepers, farmers and pesticide applicators. This course outlines the importance of honey bees honey bee decline and discusses some pollinator myths. Finally, the strategies required to coordinate the efforts of farmers, beekeepers, and applicators are discussed.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

  • Gain an understanding of the issues surrounding pollinator importance, decline, and health.
  • Tailor a management strategy that addresses the cooperation between farmers, beekeepers, and applicators.