Help break the mosquito cycle

With the recent rains from Tropical Storm Andrea, mosquitoes are again on the wing in Pinellas County.  Pinellas County Mosquito Control technicians are aggressively treating known breeding areas by ground and by air, as well as responding to calls from citizens.

Technicians have noted that many homes they’ve inspected also have items or areas that contain standing water – the ideal breeding condition for mosquitoes – and are contributing to the mosquito problem.  

Pinellas County Mosquito Control asks all citizens to do their part to reduce the mosquito population.  Remember that mosquitoes only need ¼ to ½ inch of standing water for the larvae to survive. Some simple suggestions are to:

¨     Empty water from flowerpots, garbage cans, recycling containers, wheelbarrows, aluminum cans, boat tarps, old tires, and buckets; any item that can hold water.

¨     Flush birdbaths and wading pools weekly.

¨     Flush ornamental bromeliads or treat with BTI, a biological larvicide available at home stores.  

¨     Clean roof gutters, which can become clogged and hold water. 

¨     Change the water in outdoor pet dishes regularly. 

¨     Keep pools and spas chlorinated and filtered.

¨     Stock ornamental ponds with mosquito-eating fish.

¨     Cover rain barrels with screening.

¨     Check for standing water under houses, near plumbing drains, under air conditioner drip areas, around septic tanks and heat pumps. 

¨     Take steps to eliminate standing water, improve drainage, and prevent future puddling. 

Protect your skin from mosquito bites when outdoors; wear mosquito repellent (products containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus) or long-sleeves and pants.  The threat of virus, although minimal, is present throughout the year, and precautions should be taken during outdoor activities.  No virus has been detected in the County’s sentinel chickens this year. 

By taking these simple preventative measures, citizens can help reduce the number of mosquitoes in our county and minimize mosquito-borne diseases.  

A video about mosquito control may be viewed at www.youtube.com/pcctv1.

For more information on Pinellas County services and programs, visit www.pinellascounty.org, now with LiveChat, or create a shortcut to www.pinellascounty.org/mobile on any smartphone. Pinellas County government is on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.