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Sure signs spring has come to Miami-Dade County: baby mangoes growing on trees, avocado and tabebuia trees in full bloom, birds beginning their trek back north, and mosquitoes once again buzzing and biting in droves.
As the Mosquito Control and Habitat Management Division preps for its busiest season of the year, here are some tips to help you Fight The Bite:
• Discard any unused items in your yard that may catch water;
• Clear out rain gutters to ensure smooth flow and drainage;
• Check for leaky faucets and A/C units that may be pooling water;
• Protect boats and cars with tarps that don’t accumulate water;
• Fill in tree holes or stumps with sand;
• Remove weeds and trim overgrown brush;
• Place larvicide dunks made from Bti in ponds or fountains;
• Cover windows, doors, and porches with screens, and ensure they are in a good state of repair, and
• Use mosquito repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR-3535.
“It’s very important to take precautionary steps to prevent mosquito bites and breeding year-round here in Miami-Dade,” said Division director Dr. William Petrie. “However, no time is more pertinent than in the spring, which is when mosquito activity tends to sharply increase.”
The division conducts operations throughout the year but tends to see the heaviest demands for service during the months of May-October.
The number of mosquito traps set around Miami-Dade recently has been upped to 318, and each trap is monitored on a weekly basis, informing staff on where mosquitoes are concentrated, as well as which species are present, and if there are any disease carriers among them. Miami-Dade works with the Florida Department of Health to identify suspected and confirmed cases of mosquito-borne disease and takes immediate and aggressive action to tamp down their spread.
The county engages in the regular treatment of mosquitos in the larval stages, meaning it treats large areas with a non-toxic substance called Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) through regular truck spray routes in select neighborhoods. The program is expanded into densely populated regions and high-traffic areas during the rainy months and is executed through the use of three custom-fitted trucks with specialized equipment called Buffalo Turbine.
Any residents experiencing a mosquito nuisance issue can request an inspection of their home or business by calling 311, submitting a request online, or using the Department of Solid Waste Management’s mobile apps available for iPhone and Android.
For more information, visit miamidade.gov/mosquito.
