Fall mosquito tips from Miami-Dade County's Mosquito Control Division

Although the first official day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere was September 22, the change of seasons here in Miami-Dade County doesn’t necessarily mean a reduction in the number of mosquitoes present. On the contrary, the sustained rainfall and elevated daily temperatures could mean more of them. 

"Because we are still under a mosquito-borne illness alert, it is more important than ever to take steps to protect yourself and your family from bites," says Dr. Isik Unlu, Operations Manager for the Mosquito Control Division of Miami-Dade County's Department of Solid Waste Management. "We remind everyone to continue to be vigilant about mosquito breeding near them and to always protect themselves with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered repellent when deciding to spend any extended time outdoors."

Dr. Unlu oversees a team of more than 40 professional inspectors, environmental technicians, biologists, supervisors, and public information and outreach specialists who work year-round to keep residents safe. The Mosquito Control Division also collaborates with the Florida Department of Health to address suspected and confirmed mosquito-borne illness cases with a robust protocol of inspections and truck spray treatments to eliminate both adult mosquitoes and their larvae.

Truck spray routes targeting mosquito larvae are performed on a regular basis in select areas where there has been a problem with mosquito-borne illnesses in the past, near high-count mosquito traps, and high-traffic areas. Truck spray missions to eliminate adult mosquitoes are largely driven by resident complaint volumes and mosquito trap counts. Additional routes are announced each day on social media during the afternoon hours on the division's Facebook and Twitter pages. Click here to learn more.

Here are additional tips to help Fight the Bite:

• Change out the water in birdbaths and outdoor pet dishes at least once a week.
• Use the granular form of the larvicide Bti in bromeliads, and the "dunk" form in fountains and rain barrels.
• Get rid of any objects no longer in use that may hold water like toys, pots, planters, tires, or home appliances.
• Apply a mosquito repellent with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR-3535 to exposed skin before venturing outside.
• Cover exposed skin with loose-fitting clothing, such as pants and long-sleeved shirts, and socks, shoes, and caps.
• Consider installing fine mesh screens over windows, doors, porches, and patios to keep mosquitoes out.
• Fill in tree and yard holes with sand to prevent them from collecting water.
• Keep rain gutters free and clear of debris so that they do not clog and pool water.
• Make sure that tarps used to cover boats and cars are installed and stored properly so that they do not accumulate rain or irrigation water.
• Check for standing rain and irrigation water often and eliminate any you find.

To report mosquito nuisance issues, call 311, click miamidade.gov/311direct or use the 311 Direct mobile app. For more information about Miami-Dade County’s Mosquito Control program, please visit miamidade.gov/mosquito.

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