Biting midge investigation Archer Sporting Complex Palmerston, August 2003

Abstract

Mr David King, recreation development officer of the Department of Community Services Palmerston City Council, contacted the Medical Entomology Branch (MEB) in mid July 2003 in regards to reported pest problems from biting midges at the Archer Sporting Complex. Two officers from the Medical Entomology Branch, Peter Whelan and Allan Warchot, met with David King and Tony Shearer of the Palmerston City Council at the Archer sporting complex on 16 July to discuss the problem on site and conduct a site inspection. The MEB decided to conduct biting midge trapping around the sports complex to investigate the current level of biting midges and determine if there was an actual pest problem. This paper details the results of the investigation and makes some conclusions in regards to biting midges around the sports complex.