Mosquitoes are breeding in abundance in floodwaters left behind by Tropical Storm Debby, prompting officials throughout the state to step up pesticide treatments to control them.
Experts with the Clemson University Extension Service and Regulatory Services units are advising beekeepers to be aware of increased sprayings and prepare to cover their hives if necessary while sprayings are in progress.
Additionally, officials with Clemson Livestock Poultry Health — home to the Office of the State Veterinarian — are urging horse owners to make sure their animals are up to date with vaccinations after multiple cases of the mosquito-borne disease Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) were reported.
Mosquito sprayings will increase
According to reports, multiple South Carolina counties will increase mosquito abatement efforts, including aerial spraying.
Horry County will begin aerial spraying Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, after West Nile Virus (WNV) was confirmed by County Mosquito Control and the S.C. Department of Environmental Services. The action comes after the county was placed under a local “State of Emergency” due to the flooding. The spraying will be done during evening hours, weather permitting.
Horry County beekeepers are advised to contact Horry County Mosquito Control to check the spray schedule and request exclusion.
The spraying is an essential step in protecting people from mosquito-borne diseases, including Zika virus, WNV, Chikungunya virus, dengue and malaria.
According to State Pesticide Law, 24-hour pre-notification is required prior to spray applications.
“We are cognizant of the impacts aerial spraying for mosquitoes can have on hive health, which is why we are doing our best to warn beekeepers in advance and urging them to watch local media outlets, government agency websites and social media for announcements about aerial applications and fogging operations,” said Stephen Cole, executive director of PSA Regulatory Services, a Clemson division that carries out state regulatory functions
Beekeepers and certified organic farms are encouraged to report the location of their operation directly to their local mosquito control program. Beekeepers can report the location of their hives and receive email notifications of sprayings by registering their hives with Clemson’s Voluntary Beehive Mapping Program.
The system is password protected for confidentiality and privacy; beekeepers can log into the system to load geographic data on their hives and see planned pesticide applications nearby without anyone other than pesticide applicators accessing their information or hive locations.
“The reporting tool is just one way we are trying to protect the honeybee,” said Brad Cavin, who leads apiary inspections for the Department of Plant Industry. “The goal of the tool is to connect location information provided by the beekeepers with the aerial applicators.”
The City of Dillon has already begun aerial spraying as well, and Dillon County is operating trucks…