August 20th 2008 • HOME •
Insects
Tiger Beetle: With its delicate spots and stripes of ivory and brown, and bright green belly, the tiger beetle was once highly prized by collectors. Alas, it was wiped out by vehicles driving on the beach, and none has been seen on Fire Island in many decades. This is because the beetles laid eggs on the beach, the larvae living in tiny tunnels dug by the beetles; the tunnels collapsed under the weight of the vehicles. Now that some minor curbs are being placed on beach driving, what should be done if this endangered species turns up here? It would certainly be nice if they did return, if only because they devour no-see-ems. (The misguided FIA has locked horns with the NPS over this matter. You can read what the NPS has to say about the tiger beetle.But other insects may not be so agreeable to humans. Responding to public demands, in 2001, Constantine Dillon, then Superintendent of the Fire Island National Seashore, commented on the question of controlling mosquitoes. He noted that Fire Island does not naturally have the kind of mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus. (Such mosquitoes breed in pools of water--even tiny ones.) "Spraying on Fire Island is not for West Nile. It's for nuisance control. Unfortunately, pesticides kill butterflies and dragon flies. There are more birds dying from pesticides than from West Nile."
Regarding the use of pesticides, in 1999 the National Park Service advises FIE as follows:
"Pesticide action is related to the USNPS Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. Parks look to make the habitat inhospitable for a pest (i.e. cover trash barrels to keep bears out of campgrounds, etc.).
"For example in Fire Island National Seashore we have a horse patrol with a stable at Watch Hill. The 'stable habitat' is created to make the area unfriendly for flies and rodents. The IPM action is to keep the area clean, clear of debris and horse feces, and allow for a strong breeze through the barn so flies would be blown away. With the best of IPM actions there are still many flies that bother the horses.
"The horses are for visitor safety and lessen the need for gas powered vehicles. To ensure these benefits the park applies for a permit each year to apply special pesticides for horses so they can do their job.
"The pesticide use is monitored to prevent heath hazards and be sure the pesticide works. The permit must be applied for each year and a log of pesticide applications is sent to the region each year to monitor long term use.
"As pesticide issues come up in the park a plan is developed. One of the park priorities is to develop a park wide IPM Plan. This would be where staff would first look to see if a plan has been developed and approved for a method of removing or limiting a pest to an acceptable degree. If there is no plan for a particular pest steps for developing a plan would be available in the IPM Plan. It will be very comprehensive and hopefully easy to implement. It is in a Plan such as this that the park may develop actions relating to use of pesticides in the communities."
Updated 8 Apr. 2005