Miami-Dade County offers mosquito tips for upcoming cooler months

While the weather is beginning to change, Miami-Dade County is still in its rainy season. Because temperatures rarely dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit – the point at which mosquitoes become inactive, residents should continue to Drain and Cover in order to Fight the Bite.

"With the holidays now in sight and the weather having turned toward milder temperatures, it may seem like the time to forget about mosquitoes," says Department of Solid Waste Management Director Aneisha Daniel, PhD. "It truly isn’t. Be sure to apply a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered mosquito repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR-3535 as the active ingredient before heading outdoors."

Miami-Dade keeps tabs on the mosquito populations of the area by using a network of 320+ mosquito traps. The data generated from this surveillance informs the County on where they are clustered, and thus where to provide truck spray treatments. The division also works closely with the Florida Department of Health to address mosquito borne illness issues, both when a case is suspected and confirmed.

Mosquito Control Division Chief Dr. John-Paul Mutebi stresses the importance of source reduction, which means to neutralize the places where the pests can breed. "Mosquitoes, especially the disease-spreading species Aedes aegypti, remain active during the fall and winter. Therefore, we advise checking your yard carefully and regularly for standing water, eliminating any you find. Doing so gives these container breeders fewer options to multiply."

Mosquito inspections of homes and businesses located within Miami-Dade continue to be available at no additional cost. There are three quick and easy ways to request one from the County: calling 311, using the web at miamidade.gov/mosquitoinspection, or by downloading and using the MDC Solid Waste mobile app, which is available for both Android and iPhone platforms.

Miami-Dade will continue its expanded truck spray schedule targeting mosquito larvae through the end of November, which currently 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. Learn more about route boundaries and spray schedules at miamidade.gov/truckspray.

Here are some additional tips to help residents mitigate mosquito issues: 

•    Cover skin with long-sleeved loose-fitting clothing, pants, socks, shoes, and hats in order to protect against bites.
•    Clear out rain gutters to ensure they do not clog, pool water, and breed mosquitoes.
•    Fill in tree and lawn holes with sand to prevent the same.
•    Occasionally treat bird baths, decorative fountains, and bromeliads with the larvicide containing Bti, available commercially at hardware stores and online. 
•    Cover doors, windows, patios and porches with screens to keep mosquitoes out, ensure that they are kept in a good state or repair.
•    Keep lawns and shrubs trimmed to reduce the likelihood of mosquitoes resting in them after they’ve consumed a blood meal.
•    Ensure that cats and dogs are kept on a regular course of heartworm medication to protect them from mosquito-borne illness. 
•    Maintain the proper chemical balance in your swimming pool, even when not in use.
•    Store kiddie pools so that they do not collect rain or irrigation water.

For more information and additional links to resources, visit miamidade.gov/mosquito.