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The months of April and May mark the beginning of the rainy season in Miami-Dade, causing a natural increase in mosquitoes.
During this season, Miami-Dade County’s Mosquito Control Division gears up to monitor and control the mosquito population, and raise awareness in the community about how to “Fight the Bite” and protect themselves and their loved ones.
“This is the time of year when we traditionally begin to see a rise in the mosquito populations in Miami-Dade, especially after the last couple of weeks have seen unprecedented levels of rain in South Florida,” said Mosquito Control Division director Dr. William Petrie. “Depending on temperatures and the individual mosquito species, they can go from egg to biting adult in between seven to 10 days, and this period can be shortened during the coming warmer months. It’s more important than ever to reduce the source of mosquitoes by eliminating standing water in our homes and neighborhoods.”
The Mosquito Control Division employs more than 60 professionals year-round to monitor, identify, and reduce the mosquito populations of Miami-Dade. Controlling the development of mosquito larvae makes up the bulk of the mosquito treatments rendered to the more than 2,400 square miles of county area. This is performed through a truck spray program driven by three heavy-duty trucks outfitted with Buffalo Turbine technology, which spray a mist of water mixed with spores of the naturally occurring bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti). This substance kills only mosquito and black fly larvae, and is harmless to humans, pets, wild animals, birds, and pollinators.
The division also runs public education campaigns about mosquitoes and engages the media to help spread the “Fight the Bite” message.
Here are some tips to help keep mosquitoes from breeding and biting during rainy season:
• Clear out rain gutters to prevent clogging.
• Get rid of any objects that can collect water such as toys, planters, tires, or home appliances.
• Limit breeding in bromeliad plants by sprinkling the larvicide Bti in granular form; use dunks in birdbaths, fountains, and ponds.
• Fill tree and lawn holes with sand to prevent them from collecting water and attracting mosquitoes.
• Install screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios to help keep mosquitoes out of your home; remember to keep them in a good state of repair.
• Change out the water in outdoor pet dishes often to disrupt the mosquito lifecycle.
• Check for standing water on your property often and drain any you come across.
• Protect exposed skin by covering it with clothing or a mosquito repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR-3535 as active ingredient.
• Ensure that rain gutters are free and clear of debris, which will prevent them from clogging and facilitating breeding.
• Make sure to install and properly store car and boat tarps so that they do not accumulate rain or irrigation water.
Residents can request a mosquito inspection by calling the county’s 311 call center, online at miamidade.gov/311direct, or by downloading and installing the MDC Solid Waste mobile app available for Android and iPhone.
Truck spray treatments for mosquito larvae take place on a regular schedule and continue as needed for adult mosquitoes. Check the schedule and learn about route boundaries at bit.ly/M-DCTruckSpray.
Get more information about the mosquito control program and get additional tips at miamidade.gov/mosquito.
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