On Friday, the Gazette published a very well thought-out opinion entitled Tick Sprays Kill More Than Ticks written by Jeremy Houser of the Vineyard Conservation Society. Following are my own personal observations and thoughts on this important topic.

This spring, I planted peas that grew very tall, blossomed and produced no pods. I wondered if this was because of a dearth of pollinators. The carpenter bees that started their boring in my front porch ceiling this spring are now nowhere to be seen. When I leave the outside porch light on at night, I usually come home to a screen door covered in moths and other insects. This year there are none. The luna moths that used to beat against my upstairs screens at night are gone. There is one lone monarch gracing my garden.

I wonder if by trying to kill ticks with sprays that don’t discriminate as to what kinds of insects they kill, whether we are killing off beneficial insects. No insects, fewer birds. No pollinators, no food. Are we creating a second “Silent Spring?”

Individual and regional action is needed to protect our pollinators and other beneficial insects. There may be other reasons for the sharp decrease in our insect population but seriously investigating the implications of spraying is needed. The boards of health should work together to determine if there are long-term impacts to unregulated Islandwide tick/mosquito spraying. Insects are part of the chain of life on Earth and we cannot live without them. As an Island, we need to think more carefully about what we are doing.

Kate Warner

West Tisbury