Mosquito Control Unit Actively Monitoring and Fighting Mosquitoes

From the Hillsborough County Mosquito Control Unit:

With last week being declared Mosquito Control Awareness Week by the American Mosquito Control Association and the rainy season finally starting in our area, Hillsborough County wants residents know about what it is doing year-around to protect them from the dangers of mosquitoes.

The Hillsborough County Mosquito Control Unit provides mosquito control for the entire county including the cities, using a diversified fleet of vehicles, including a helicopter, airboats, trucks, and all-terrain vehicles to inspect for and fight mosquitoes. As part of its surveillance program, the Unit operates 15 sentinel chicken sites with 90 chickens, and 78 CDC mosquito surveillance traps strategically located throughout the county.

Since the beginning of this year, Hillsborough County Mosquito Control staff has:

• responded to more than 1,800 requests for service by residents. 
• conducted more than 10,000 inspections by ground and 382 by air. As part of its inspections, staff looks for suitable mosquito breeding environments, standing water and adult mosquitoes. If mosquitoes or mosquito larvae are found to be present, additional actions are taken, such as larviciding (or killing mosquito larvae in standing water) or spraying for adult mosquitoes.
• sprayed more than 205,000 acres with its trucks for a total of 154 missions, and more than 2,000 acres with its helicopter.
• captured more than 321,000 mosquitoes with its mosquito surveillance traps, which are checked weekly for inspection and classification by its lab. 
• set out additional traps and increased inspections and public education in affected areas after infected animals were identified. 

To request spraying or assistance from the Mosquito Control Unit, call (813) 635-5400.

For more information on the Hillsborough County Mosquito Control Unit and tips on preventing or reducing mosquitoes on your property, you also can visit hillsboroughcounty.org  and click on “Mosquito Control” in the A-Z Index.  On the Unit’s site you also can learn more about Integrated Pest Management, what equipment they use today, and where the Unit is and has sprayed.

Read the Unit's Top 10 Mosquito Prevention Tips.