Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control monitoring rain situation

(MIAMI, July 29, 2013) – Rainy season in Miami-Dade County is also the time of year for mosquitoes. However, just because it rains doesn’t mean mosquitoes will become a nuisance if environmental conditions are not favorable. Although Miami-Dade has already received quite a bit of rain this year, the Miami-Dade County Public Works and Waste Management Department’s (PWWM) Mosquito Control Section reports that, so far, this has not been an unusually active mosquito season. 

For example, in June 2012, the Mosquito Control Section received approximately 4,700 mosquito complaints.  This June, the number was around 900. 

“Our Mosquito Control Section has a proactive, year-round program to monitor the mosquito population throughout the County and respond when the situation warrants,” said PWWM Director Kathleen Woods-Richardson. “For smaller, more localized infestations, we use truck-mounted spraying. For larger, regional mosquito infestations, Miami-Dade will use aerial spraying,” added Woods-Richardson. 

Since the start of mosquito season in May, Mosquito Control staff has performed 491 truck-mounted spraying applications in areas where mosquito counts are high and residents are reporting mosquitoes as a nuisance. 

Miami-Dade residents can help reduce the nuisance caused by mosquitoes by remembering the “five Ds:”

Dusk and Dawn – avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active.

Dress – wear long, loose, light-colored clothing that covers the skin.

DEET – use mosquito repellants that contain DEET

Drainage – eliminate standing water around the home in places such as buckets, cans, old tires, and plant containers.

Residents with complaints about mosquitoes can call the County’s Answer Center at 3-1-1. For more information about Miami-Dade County’s Mosquito Control, visit the PWWM website at www.miamidade.gov/publicworks.