Silent Prairie
The prairie went silent late last summer, like the silent spring Rachel Carson reported DDT caused. The township’s mosquito-sprayers market a safe application, but my prairie said otherwise. Let’s all pay attention and ask tough questions. Let’s become citizen scientists, learn, opt-out, and save our insects to save our birds — for birds need insects to eat in the spring and summer and insects have a place in this world, too.
2024, acrylic on canvas, 24” wide x 36” high
Spraying is often managed by a township/municipality without notification of residents—so many have no idea it is happening at all. Googling “mosquito abatement and [your township/municipality]” and then calling your township is the first place to start.
Mosquito Management Resources:
The Xerces Society, an international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats, provides a wealth of authoritative resources on Effective Mosquito Managment including pamphlets on the following topics:
Entomologist Doug Tallamy’s “Bucket of Doom” to trap and kill mosquito larvae (video and pdf)
Pesticide Risk Assessment Resources:
Environmental Protection Agency:
The National Wildlife Federation has a blog post byDavid Mizejewski & David Weber cites studies that show mosquito sprays hurt bees and other wildlife and alternatives to spraying: “What You Need to Know Before Spraying for Mosquitoes.”
The Humane Gardener’s website links to studies about synthetic pyrethroids’ lethal effects on butterflies.
Beecatur, as a Bee City, Decatur affirms its support for creating sustainable habitats for pollinators and educating residents about the critical role bees play in our ecosystem. Their website contains a lot of information about pesticides’ impact on bees.
BeyondPesticides.org offers the latest information on the hazards of pesticides and least-toxic alternatives.
Fisher, Adrian II et al. “Breaking the cycle: Reforming pesticide regulation to protect pollinators.” BioScience, Volume 73, Issue 11, November 2023, Pages 808–813, https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biad088