Summer mosquito tips

Summer means an elevated amount of mosquitoes here in Miami-Dade County, so remember to Drain and Cover.

Your best defense against mosquitoes is to drain standing water and eliminate objects that may hold water, like tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers or trash containers. If mosquitoes can't breed, then they can't bite. Check your yard soon after rainfall and irrigation treatments and ensure there isn't any standing water for females to lay eggs.

Wear the right clothes. Fabric can act as a barrier, making it more difficult for mosquitoes to reach your skin in the first place. Cover your skin with protective, loose-fitting clothing or an EPA-registered repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR-3535.

Invest in screens for windows, doors, patios, and porches and keep them maintained. Mosquitoes will find and exploit any opening.

Submit a mosquito inspection request online or by calling 311.