----- Original Message -----
From: B.G. Granier <bgkajun_at_worldnet.att.net>
To: Shute, Peggy W. <pwshute_at_tva.gov>
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 4:06 PM
Subject: Re: 3rd time's the charm?
> If gambusia were all that they're reputed to be by the authorities who
ought
> to know, then why does Louisiana spend millions each year for
> mosquito-control by sending out the "fogging-machines" that disperse an
> anti-mosquito agent that is entirely more effective than all the
"Damnbusia"
> that exist here in their endemic territory?
>
> Just another reason why the misnomer "Mosquito-fish" should be changed by
> the "power's-that-be" to a more suitable name, such as fin-nipping
> livebearer, or whatever!
>
> My regards to all who really know this fish for what it is............
>
> Sincerely,
>
> BG Granier
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Shute, Peggy W. <pwshute_at_tva.gov>
> To: 'B.G. Granier' <bgkajun_at_worldnet.att.net>
> Cc: 'Rakes, Patrick L.' <xenisma_at_aol.com>
> Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001 8:03 AM
> Subject: RE: 3rd time's the charm?
>
>
> > that's exactly the point of my sending this around! We think Gambusia is
> one
> > of the reasons why the Barrens Topminnow is in serious trouble of
> extinction
> > in TN. Anything you folks can do to discourage, or educate would be
> helpful!
> > Peggy
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: B.G. Granier
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2001 5:04 PM
> > To: Shute, Peggy W.
> > Subject: Re: 3rd time's the charm?
> >
> >
> > If I may throw in my uneducated 2 cents worth..........
> >
> > Gambusia species aren't a viable mosquito abatement species....I will
> expand
> > on my observations.
> >
> > #1: This species as young will prey on mosquito larvae, until they've
> > matured.
> >
> > #2: Once they've matured, neither predators or the more often-found
> species
> > will eat them.
> >
> > #3: Then the Gambusia species turns to eating the fry or nipping the
fins
> of
> > the endemic species in the non-native areas where they where mistakingly
> > introduced for the sake of being sold as "Mosquito-fish".
> >
> > Please discourage any introductions of this fish!
> >
> > Best Regards,
> >
> > BG Granier
> > NANFA/aka
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Shute, Peggy W. <pwshute_at_tva.gov>
> > To: Adams, Reid <adamsr_at_siu.edu>; Adams, Susie <sadams01 at fs.fed.us>;
Aho,
> > John <dartmoor_at_sciences.aum.edu>; Alam, Shawn <shawn_alam at fws.gov>;
> > Albanese, Brett <balbanes_at_vt.edu>; Anderson, William D.
> > <andersonwd_at_cofc.edu>; Angus, Robert <raangus at uab.edu>; Augspurger, Tom
> > <tom_augspurger_at_fws.gov>; Barbour, Clyde D. <cbarbour at smet.com>; Bart,
> Henry
> > L. <hank_at_museum.tulane.edu>; Bauer, Bruce <bbauer at bheenv.com>; Baxter,
Bo
> > <jtbaxter_at_tva.gov>; Benz, George <gwb at sari.org>; Biggins, Dick (work)
> > <richard_biggins_at_fws.gov>; Birkhead, William S.
> > <birkhead_bill_at_colstate.edu>; Bivens, Rick <rbivens at mail.state.tn.us>;
> > Borgia, Andrew <noturus2_at_aol.com>; Boschung, Herbert
> > <boschung_at_biology.as.ua.edu>; Bouchard, Ray <bouchard at say.acnatsci.org>;
> > Branstetter, Steven <stevendeb_at_worldnet.att.net>; Brenneman, William
> > <wbrneman_at_grove.iup.edu>; Burcher, Chris <cburcher at mail.vt.edu>;
Burkhead,
> > Noel
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2001 1:45 PM
> > Subject: 3rd time's the charm?
> >
> >
> > > FYI,
> > >
> > > Sorry for yet another e-mail. Here's the article:
> > >
> > > Subject: Mosquitofish II
> > >
> > > FYI Everybody: my apologies for sending a link to nothing specific. AP
> > > doesn't let you easily communicate! The article is pasted below...
> (Peggy
> > > forward?)
> > >
> > > AUGUST 26, 18:20 EDT Fish Fights West Nile Virus By ELLIOTT MINOR
> > > Associated Press Writer
> > > ALAPAHA, Ga. (AP) - Years ago, Ken Holyoak stocked his ponds with
small
> > fish
> > >
> > > that devoured mosquito larvae. His goal was avoiding annoying bites,
not
> > > protection from mosquito-borne diseases.
> > > But with cases of West Nile virus emerging across the East Coast, the
> > south
> > > Georgia fish farmer says he can hardly keep up with the demand for his
> > > mosquito fish.
> > > Holyoak said his farm has shipped out about 5.5 million mosquito fish
> > since
> > > the West Nile outbreak in New York two years ago, and he plans to
> produce
> > > millions more this year.
> > > The fish, which can grow up to 2 inches long, are sold for about 4
cents
> a
> > > piece.
> > > ``People are putting them in puddle holes, in fish ponds,'' Holyoak
> said.
> > > ``Some people just don't like being bitten by mosquitoes, whether
> they'll
> > > give you a disease or not.''
> > > Mosquitoes can transmit the virus from birds to humans and other
> animals.
> > > Infected birds have been detected this year in states including
Florida,
> > > Georgia, Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, as well as Canada.
> > > West Nile, which can cause deadly swelling of the brain, has killed
nine
> > > people in New York and New Jersey since 1999. The virus was blamed for
> the
> > > death of an Atlanta woman this month. At least four Florida residents
> have
> > > been sickened by the disease, which is most dangerous to the elderly
or
> > > people with weak immune systems.
> > > ``When Noah loaded the ark, he shouldn't have put the two mosquitoes
> > > aboard,'' Holyoak said.
> > > With 100 ponds, Holyoak and his family are surrounded by 300 acres of
> > > potential mosquito breeding ground.
> > > Mosquitoes lay eggs on water surfaces. The eggs hatch into larvae that
> > grow
> > > into adults and fly from the water. Males eat nectar. Females bite
> > animals,
> > > using the blood to produce protein for their eggs.
> > > Holyoak, owner of Ken's Hatchery and Fish Farms Inc., about 250 miles
> > > southeast of Atlanta, produces at least seven types of fish, including
> > > catfish, hybrid striped bass and his own ``hybrid Georgia Giant
bream.''
> > But
> > >
> > > the mosquito fish is his hottest seller.
> > > Joe Conlon, technical adviser for the American Mosquito Control
> > Association,
> > >
> > > said mosquito fish, known by the scientific name, Gambusia, are
commonly
> > > used
> > > to control the pests.
> > > The fish kill mosquitoes before they have an opportunity to bite,
Conlon
> > > said, adding that, ``Once the mosquitoes become adults, they're darn
> hard
> > to
> > >
> > > control.''
> > > But some wildlife officials say Gambusia are aggressive eaters can
> quickly
> > > displace native fish species.
> > > ``Mosquito fish have a bad name in some areas outside the Southeast,''
> > > University of Georgia fish specialist Gary Burtle said. ``They eat
fish
> > and
> > > fish eggs and compete for food sources other than the mosquito.''
> > > The Gila Killifish is in danger of being displaced by the Gambusia in
> the
> > > western United States, and biologists have launched a Gambusia
> eradication
> > > program in Australia and New Zealand, Burtle said. Gambusia are native
> to
> > > the
> > > southern and eastern states but have been dispatched worldwide.
> > > ``Mosquito fish do eat mosquitoes,'' Burtle said. ``However, mosquito
> fish
> > > have been in Georgia for many years and we still have mosquitoes. Like
> > many
> > > grazing or foraging animals, the mosquito fish does not eat all of the
> > > mosquitoes.''
> > > Still, biologists at Valdosta State University are studying the
> > feasibility
> > > of raising the fish for local agencies.
> > > ``We've got the facilities and the university has some properties that
> > might
> > >
> > > be suitable for fish production,'' Valdosta biologist Mark Blackmore,
a
> > > member of the American Mosquito Control Association, said. ``We could
> > > provide
> > > the fish as a service to the community.''
> > > Other components of a program typically are chemicals that kill
larvae,
> > > sprays that kill adults and public education to eliminate breeding
> > habitats
> > > such as standing water in outdoor containers or tires.
> > > Holyoak stands by the fish.
> > > ``It doesn't make sense for people to say, `Don't put the fish in,'
when
> > the
> > >
> > > mosquitoes and the poisons are so much worse,'' he said. ``It's the
> > cheapest
> > >
> > > way in the world to control mosquitoes.''
> > > ---
> > > On the Net:
> > > Ken's Hatchery and Fish Farm: <http://www.kens-fishfarm.com/>
> > > American Mosquito Control Association: <http://www.mosquito.org/>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
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