Fight the bite this fall

With the passing of the autumnal equinox on September 22, it is now officially fall here in Our County. This means there are at least several more weeks of warmer weather still in store for us. While we can officially say so long to the summer swelter, we cannot yet bid adieu to pesky mosquitoes. We don’t really get that luxury in Miami-Dade, as mosquitoes are a year-round nuisance here.

Miami-Dade will continue its expanded truck spray schedule targeting mosquito larvae through the end of November, which includes Cutler Bay, Homestead, Pinecrest, West Miami, and other areas. During winter and early spring, routes will continue to focus on Miami Beach, Wynwood, and Little River.

The threat of mosquito bites and the potentially serious diseases they may carry is real all year long. Follow these simple steps to protect yourself and your family.

• Eliminate standing water around your home to prevent mosquito breeding
• Get rid of items in your yard that could collect rain or irrigation water
• Use an EPA-registered repellent to prevent bites
• Fill in tree and lawn holes with sand to prevent the same
• Cover exposed skin with long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks and hats
• Use the larvicide Bti in dunk form for fountains, and granule form in bromeliads
• Refresh or replace the water in outdoor pet dishes and birdbaths weekly
• Cover windows, doors and porches with fine mesh screening, cribs with mosquito netting
• Ensure pets are kept on a regular course of heartworm medication to protect them from mosquito-borne illness 
• Periodically ensure that rain gutters are not clogged
• Store kiddie pools to prevent the collection of rain and irrigation water