Answers To Your Questions

The District gathers data through mosquito traps, daily inspections by our Field Technicians, landing rate counts, and residents’ complaints. What is a landing rate count? A Field Technician stands in a specified location for 2-5 minutes and counts the number of mosquitoes that land on them.

Citizens’ complaints are added to our surveillance data, but it doesn’t guarantee a treatment. If we see a pattern of increased mosquito populations in a large area, we will typically plan a treatment. Our Field Technicians are always happy to visit a homeowner’s property to investigate for mosquito habitat and apply a larval – or juvenile mosquito – control material to the affected area if needed.

The District follows integrated mosquito management (IMM) methods, which are endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These methods are scientifically based, comprehensive, and tailored to safely counter each stage of the mosquito life cycle. Controlling juvenile, or larval, mosquitoes through larvicide applications and reducing their breeding habitat is a prudent mosquito management alternative. When those measures are not clearly adequate, or if disease is present in mosquito populations, the application of materials to target adult, flying mosquitoes is used.

The District uses three materials to control adult mosquitoes: Duet HD (a pyrethroid), Dibrom (naled), and Merus 3.0 (an organic pyrethroid). To control larval – or juvenile – mosquitoes found in water, the District uses a number of products containing either spinosad or Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis).

Yes, all Florida mosquito control programs are established and operated according to the procedure given in the Mosquito Control Law, Chapter 388 Florida Statue (F.S) and the Mosquito Control Rules, Chapter 5E-1 3, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act of 1972 (FIFRA) requires that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) be certain that all personnel handling hazardous or restricted chemicals be trained to do so correctly and safely and that they be certified as pesticide applicators.

According to available research, residents are not in danger of contracting cancer from mosquito control materials applied infrequently and at low amounts. Most of the mosquito control materials are “non-restricted use” pesticides, which is the same category as the garden and household sprays you can purchase at the store.

Unless a person is very sensitive or allergic to chemicals, washing the skin with water is all that needs to be done. At the ultra-low amount of material applied by the District, no other symptoms should be experienced but individuals should consult a physician with their concerns.

See a health care professional immediately! In Florida, if pesticide is found in a person’s blood, health care professionals are required to report the condition to the State Department of Health.

Generally, there is no need to relocate during mosquito control treatments. The control materials have been scientifically evaluated for this use and found to pose minimal risks to human health and the environment when used according to label directions. They have been registered by the EPA and reviewed by the State Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services for use around commercial, agricultural and residential areas. Although mosquito control pesticides pose low risks, we respect that some people may prefer to avoid or further minimize exposure. If this is the case, simply going indoors during the treatment will prevent exposure. Please be sure to sign up for advance notices of when your location will be treated; for example, when an evening treatment is planned, you will receive a notice earlier the same day.

Applying control materials to the water where juvenile, or larval, mosquitoes are present is an effective method of interrupting the mosquito life cycle. The District uses Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis) in either small granules about the size of kitty litter, in briquettes dropped in storm drains, or a mist application to those sources where mosquito eggs and larvae are found. Bti is harmless to people, animals, plants, fish and doesn’t affect water quality.

The District strategically treats for adult mosquitoes after dark for a number of reasons, one of which is to avoid the control material coming into contact with other beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies – they typically aren’t active at night. We use the materials strictly adhering to the labeling. These measures greatly reduce the chance of harming other insects.

Mosquitoes let their sense of smell guide them to their meals, and some people just smell better to them than others. For example, if you walked into a house after someone had pulled freshly baked cookies out of the oven, you would be drawn to the smell and head toward the kitchen. A person’s aroma comes from many sources, including your genetics, breath, and the bacteria on your skin. Trying to mask it with perfumes or body lotions doesn’t generally help, and a tip: floral scents tend to draw in the pesky biters even more. Also, the notion of certain blood types being attractive has not been scientifically proven.

There are a number of EPA-registered alternatives available, including those containing DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or picaridin. When EPA-approved repellents are applied properly and reapplied as needed, they are proven to be effective and will provide adequate protection.