Yuliia Skrypniuk - Week 4 with DNREC Fish and Wildlife Division

 This week has been one of the hottest so far! From Monday through Wednesday, the temperature in Delaware soared past 100°F, which is very unusual for this area. Because of the extreme heat, we focused on completing fieldwork in the early mornings and shifted to indoor tasks in the afternoons whenever possible. It was definitely a sweaty and exhausting week, and staying hydrated became one of our top priorities.

On Monday, we began preparing for two important certification exams provided by the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA):

1. The Pesticide Applicator Core Exam, which covers the general knowledge needed to safely use pesticides.

2. The Category 5C Mosquito Control Exam, which focuses specifically on mosquito pest management.

We studied using training materials, textbooks, and also got great advice from our experienced colleagues who had taken the tests before. While preparing, we learned a lot about different mosquito species and the various strategies used to manage them: whether through environmental control, biological methods, or chemical treatments.

On Tuesday, we continued studying in the morning. In the afternoon, I helped the tick team sort and count a large batch of ticks they had collected. Each team member used their own strategy to speed up the process, and I found one that worked well for me. First, I separated all adult ticks, identified and counted them, and packed them accordingly. Then I focused on the nymphs, which required a microscope for proper identification. I arranged them into groups of 25: 5 in a row and 5 rows per block, which made counting much easier. Finally, I examined the larvae. Since they are so small and look very similar, I usually needed help or a second opinion to confirm my identifications. At one point, I had 413 nymph-stage American dog ticks stacked neatly using this "ticknique"—I was quite proud of that!

Wednesday was a big day: test day! I’m happy to share that I passed both the Pesticide Applicator Core Exam and the Mosquito Control 5C certification. This means I am now officially certified to apply restricted-use pesticides. Beyond the certification, I now have a much deeper understanding of how pesticides work, how to interrupt the mosquito life cycle, and how to read and interpret pesticide labels. I learned how to find crucial information like proper PPE, active ingredients, mixing instructions, safety protocols, and emergency first aid procedures.

On Thursday, we returned to the field to inspect three parks in northern Delaware for tick activity. We weren’t expecting to find many ticks, and in two of the parks, that held true—just a few scattered here and there. But the third park surprised us. As we ventured deeper into the area, tick numbers started climbing rapidly. Every time I stopped to check the flag, it had more ticks than before. The heat was intense, and the work was physically draining, but we powered through. We'll be keeping a close watch on that location in the coming weeks.

In the afternoon, we followed our usual protocol to sort and identify the ticks we collected, organizing them by collection date, location, species, and life stage.

On Friday, we responded to mosquito complaints from residents. When people report problems with mosquitoes in their yards, our team investigates. Often, there's no need to treat the area with pesticides. Most of the time, we find common backyard items—like kiddie pools, toys, flowerpots, or open containers—that collect standing water without the homeowner realizing it. Since just 1 ounce of water is enough for a mosquito to breed, these everyday objects can quickly become mosquito factories. We spend most of our time educating the public on how to prevent mosquito breeding by keeping their yards clean and dry. Usually, the species we find in these cases are Aedes albopictus, also known as Asian tiger mosquitoes, which are well known for breeding in small, human-made containers.

Despite the heat, I’m grateful for how much I’m learning, not just about pests and public health, but also about teamwork, community outreach, and the importance of even the smallest environmental details.