Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:27:55 -0400
From: Allison Weakley
Subject: the so-called Death Swamp
For the person(s) concerned about the so-called Death Swamp south of US64:
Please consider that wetlands serve essential ecosystem functions, and are the most productive ecosystems in the world. Read more about their functions and values at these websites:
http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/wetlands/
http://www.water.ncsu.edu/watershedss/info/wetlands/function.html
There are many wetlands in Chatham, including in the area in which this wetland occurs – the soils do not drain well, and streams and seeps are common. There is an upland wetland near the so-called Death Swamp that is considered a Significant Natural Heritage Area by the NC Natural Heritage Program due to it’s importance for salamander habitat.
As far as mosquitoes are concerned, I’m not an entomologist, but do know that most of the mosquitoes that emerge in the wild never have contact with humans (unless humans are in the wild) and obtain blood from the most common animals in their habitats. Though mosquitoes can travel some distance, traveling takes energy and mosquitoes require a lot of
energy. Females must derive blood from an animal before they can develop eggs, (and some mosquito species are very specific about what kind of animal – check the kind of species that’s giving you problems) so the likelihood a female mosquito would be biting you in your yard only to travel (miles?) to the Death Swamp to deposit eggs seems highly
unlikely. It’s much more likely that the mosquitoes plaguing you are reproducing closer in proximity to your home.
The more likely cause of mosquitoes for folks who live in residential areas is standing water in gutters, ditches, pots, tree holes, bird baths, etc. in your neighborhood. Mosquitoes don’t require many days of standing water to reproduce.
~Allison Weakley
Biologist