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Annual springtime blooms are accompanied by a rise in the number of mosquitoes. With more than 50 mosquito species present in Miami-Dade year-round, control methods are necessary, no matter the season.
“Conditions are conducive for mosquitoes all year round in Miami-Dade, however, spring is the time of year when the peak season begins,” said Dr. John-Paul Mutebi, new Mosquito Control Division director. “As the rains become more frequent and the temperatures begin to climb, mosquitoes naturally become more abundant. We urge everyone to remain vigilant and take steps to protect themselves and their families no matter the season.”
The Mosquito Control Division remains fully staffed and highly engaged throughout the year because mosquitoes are a year-round threat in Miami-Dade. Preventive and reactive treatments continue to take place, driven by mosquito surveillance data collected from 320-plus trap sites, resident complaints, and disease referrals from the Florida Department of Health. Staff continues to send mosquito samples to laboratories to test for the presence of agents of disease.
Here are some tips designed to protect residents from mosquitoes this spring:
• Cleaning out rain gutters: Now is a good time to make sure your gutters aren’t blocked.
Excess leaves, branches, and other debris can cause the coming rainwater to pool and eventually attract egg-bearing female mosquitoes.
• Applying a repellent with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR-3535: This is the time of year when people begin to spend extended periods of time outdoors. This makes one even more susceptible to bites and to diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. Malaria made its presence felt last year in nearby Sarasota, and dengue continues to circulate in the area.
• Clearing out your yard of discarded items that may accumulate rain or irrigation water: Miami-Dade County’s Solid Waste Management Department operates 13 Trash and Recycling Centers where white goods and other bulky items can be dropped off. Also, each household is entitled to two bulky waste pickups per year not to exceed 25 cubic yards.
• Using a larvicide containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) in bromeliads, birdbaths, rain barrels, decorative fountains, and ponds: Bti is a naturally occurring bacterium that only kills mosquito and black fly larvae. There are few ways to limit mosquito breeding in these sites better than using an organic larvicide, which is commercially available, inexpensive, and non-toxic to humans, pets, wild animals, birds, and pollinators.
• Requesting a mosquito inspection from Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control: if your home or business is being swarmed by mosquitoes, Mosquito Control can help. Call 311, use the website at miamidade.gov/mosquitoinspection, or download and install the Miami-Dade Solid Waste mobile app, provide some simple details about your location and the issue, and an inspector will come out within one to two business days.
For additional tips and more information about the county’s integrated mosquito management program, visit miamidade.gov/mosquito.
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