Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control urges vigilance during the cooler months

The weather may be turning away from heat advisories and toward milder temperatures, but that doesn’t mean mosquitoes won’t be around. Miami-Dade's climate, with its relatively high average temperatures and extended rainy season, is very favorable for the about 50 different mosquito species present in South Florida. Precautions must be taken against bites and the threat of the diseases spread by mosquitos, even in the fall and winter months.  

"We may be getting to the time of year when mosquitoes are least active, but our division will remain fully staffed and working to keep residents safe from nuisance and disease-spreading mosquitoes," says Acting Mosquito Control Division Director Dr. Isik Unlu. "Thankfully, the threat of locally transmitted malaria from the Sarasota area has dissipated, but we still remain under a mosquito-borne illness alert because of local and travel-related dengue cases." Dr. Unlu is also currently serving as the operations manager.

Here are some tips designed to help keep mosquitoes from biting and breeding near you:

·    Change out the water in birdbaths and pet water bowls frequently.
·    Cover skin with protective clothing including long pants, long sleeved shirts, hats, shoes, and socks.
·    Treat water-holding decorative plants such as bromeliads with the larvicide Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis).
·    Maintain the water balance (pool chemistry) of swimming pools year-round, and empty and properly store plastic swimming pools when not in use.
·    Apply repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR-3535 as active ingredients before spending time outdoors, especially between dusk and dawn.
·    Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than two months. 
·    Eliminate standing water from yard items like garbage cans, house gutters, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots, or any other containers where sprinkler or rainwater has collected.
·    Get rid of old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances, and other items that aren't being used.
·    Protect boats and cars from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
·    Install screens on doors, windows, patios, and porches to keep mosquitoes out.
·    Keep the screens in a good state of repair. 

The peak mosquito months of May through October also coincide with extended truck larviciding treatments that target mosquitoes in their vulnerable early stages. These truck routes will remain in place until the end of October but will taper off until only a select few areas continue to receive regular treatments November through April. The substance in use is Bti, and it kills only mosquito and black fly larvae. It is harmless to humans, pets, wild animals, birds, and pollinators. 

Truck spray missions to eliminate adult mosquito infestations are conducted only when data, clusters of resident complaints, or Florida Department of Health mosquito borne illness reports warrant them. They cannot be sent upon request; our division must first inspect and confirm the presence of mosquitoes in the area. Learn more at miamidade.gov/truckspray. Additional truck routes are announced each afternoon on the division's Facebook and X pages. Aerial missions are rarely utilized; the last such treatment took place in 2017.

Surveillance of the mosquito populations will continue unabated through 300+ mosquito traps and a staff of environmental and laboratory technicians, and biologists. The same goes for residential and commercial mosquito inspections. Residents of Miami-Dade can request an inspection by dialing 311, visiting miamidade.gov/mosquitoinspection to make an online request, or by downloading the MDC Solid Waste mobile app available for Android and iPhone.

Learn more about the mosquito control division and get additional tips at miamidade.gov/mosquito.