As we well know, dusk and
dawn are when mosquitoes are most active, particularly
species in the genera Culex and Culiseta, which are
known to spread mosquito borne diseases such as Eastern
Equine Encephalitis, Saint Louis Encephalitis and West
Nile Virus. During these hours, mosquitoes take advantage
of higher humidity, cooler temperatures and the availability
of roosting birds for feeding (blood source).
Escambia County and other jurisdictions, therefore,
use these times to target their mosquito spraying (adulticide)
activities. Other benefits of evening spraying are that
humans and pets are generally indoors, traffic is generally
lighter and susceptible non-target groups such as butterflies,
bees and dragonflies are not active. Spraying should
only take place when conditions allow the adulticide
to contact the targeted pest while non-targeted organisms
and adverse environmental impacts are kept to an absolute
minimum. These conditions are generally during twilight
and nighttime periods.
With the advent of mosquito season, Escambia County
has adopted such a schedule for adulticide application
times. We have established a spray schedule which adjusts
each evening for sunset. Spraying activity will not
begin more than ½ hour prior to sunset and most
days within 15 minutes of sunset. This practice follows
guidance from the Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control,
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
While adulticiding (spraying) is the action we all typically
associate with Mosquito Control, this is the last and
least effective method. Adulticiding is the tip of the
mosquito control iceburg with the other 90 percent of
it unseen. Predominantly, mosquito control activities
occur throughout the year unseen by most of us. Activities
such as source control, inspections, larviciding, mosquito
fish, enforcement, education, ditch and pond maintenance
are much more effective but less obvious mosquito control
techniques.
When you see the mosquito truck come by your house,
rather than being grateful that relief has finally come,
please recollect not only the earlier part of that same
day but back in January when mosquitoes were the farthest
thing from your mind. Those are the times when our mosquito
technicians were working most effectively and we all
should have been taking precautions against tonights
nuisance.
Remember the 5 D’s of
mosquito control:
Dusk
– avoid when mosquitoes are most active.
Dawn
– avoid the next most active period.
Deet
– use personal chemical protection to ward off mosquitos
Dress – cover exposed
skin to block mosquito access.
Drain
– remove standing water in pots, pet dishes, gutters
and other retainers.
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Steps
You Can Take to Help Control Mosquitoes
How can I protect myself
and my family from mosquito bites?
- Apply insect repellent containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide)
when you're outdoors. When possible, wear light
colored, long-sleeved clothes and long pants treated
with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since
mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. If you
spray your clothing, there is no need to spray repellent
containing DEET on the skin under your clothing.
Always follow the recommendations appearing on the
product label when using repellent.
- Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in
the early evening, which are peak mosquito biting
times.
How can I reduce the number
of mosquitoes around my home?
-
Mosquitoes can be kept out of the home
by keeping windows, doors and porches tightly screened
(16-18 mesh). Those insects that do get into structures
can be eliminated with a fly swatter or an aerosol
space spray.
- Adult mosquitoes prefer to rest on weeds and
other vegetation. You can reduce the number of areas
where adult mosquitoes can find shelter by cutting
down weeds adjacent to the house foundation and
in their yards, and mowing the lawn regularly.
- Destroy or dispose of tin cans, old tires, buckets,
unused plastic swimming pools or other containers
that collect and hold water. Do not allow water
to accumulate in the saucers of flowerpots, cemetery
urns or in pet dishes for more than 2 days.
- Clean debris from rain gutters and remove any
standing water under or around structures, or on
flat roofs. Check around faucets and air conditioner
units and repair leaks or eliminate puddles that
remain for several days.
- Change the water in birdbaths and wading pools
at least once a week and stock ornamental pools
with top feeding predacious minnows.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools not in use.
A swimming pool left untended by a family on vacation
for a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result
in neighborhood-wide complaints. Mosquitoes may
even breed in the water that collects on pool covers.
- Check for trapped water in plastic or canvas
tarps used to cover boats, pools, etc. Arrange the
tarp to drain the water.
- Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent
water from standing for several days.
Prevention information is
from the Center for Disease Control and The American
Mosquito Control Association.
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