Winter Lecture Series: Spray and Pray: Misguided Faith in Pesticides Isn’t the Answer to Our Mosqito and Tick Problems

As the public’s fears about Lyme disease, West Nile virus and Zika have increased, so has our use of pesticides to control mosquitoes and ticks. However, there are questions we should be asking about the process: What exactly are we spraying? Are these chemicals safe, or do they pose a threat to human health? What are the ecological and economic impacts of spraying? And are these sprays effective at achieving the stated goals of pest control? All of these issues and alternative options for pest control will be addressed.

Daniel P. Duran is a Lecturer at Rowan University and president of a non-profit insect conservation organization, The Mid-Atlantic Native & Threatened Insect Zoo (MANTIZ). He received a B.S. in environmental science from Stockton University in 1998, a M.S. in entomology from the University of Missouri in 2002 and a Ph.D. in evolution and ecology from Vanderbilt University in 2010.

Walk-ins welcome as space allows.

Punch Cards
Purchase a Winter Lecture Series punch card, good for one admission to each of the eight lectures, and save 20%. Punch cards may be purchased at the Visitor Center only. Call 215.862.2924 for additional information.

Winter Weather
If we must cancel or postpone a program, we will disseminate the message via Facebook, our website and email. Please check those sources before venturing out in poor weather conditions.