Aerial Mosquito Spraying

Aerial spraying for the control of nuisance mosquitoes is used in Miami-Dade County when mosquito trap counts exceed acceptable levels and when there is an increased number of complaint calls from residents reporting mosquitoes as a nuisance. 

These aerial spray treatments target the Aedes taeniorhynchus (black salt marsh mosquito).  This species is not a vector for disease; however, it is an aggressive biter and can create a significant nuisance to residents and create a diminished quality of life for residents living where there are infestations.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, aerial spraying using the pesticide naled, is a safe, quick and efficient method for mosquito control.  Naled is an EPA-registered pesticide which has been used for aerial spraying by Miami-Dade County for more than forty years to successfully control adult black salt marsh mosquitoes in populated areas. 

Mosquito control programs throughout the United States and in neighboring counties and districts in Florida also use naled as part of their integrated vector control programs. 

Miami-Dade County used aerial spraying during the 2016 response to local transmission of Zika to help control the Aedes aegypti mosquito population in Miami Beach and the Wynwood area north of downtown Miami.  Aerial treatments using naled, in conjunction with aerial and truck Bti larvicide treatments, allowed Mosquito Control to successfully break the cycle of local Zika transmission. 

When aerial treatments are necessary, Mosquito Control uses a very small amount of naled, between a half ounce to one ounce per acre (about the size of a football field), depending on the species. According to both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “This small amount does not pose a health risk to people or pets in the area that is sprayed.”

Additional information about naled and the effectiveness of aerial spraying, insecticides used, and simple precautions you can take when aerial spraying occurs, are available from the EPA and the CDC. 

You can get general information on aerial spraying for mosquito control to help answer some of your questions. Learn about the effectiveness of aerial spraying, insecticides used and more. Read more about Naled which is primarily used for controlling adult mosquitoes.