May’s Most Wanted Florida Pest – Mosquitoes

In South Florida, you can’t really say May is the beginning of mosquito season because South Florida’s tropical temperatures and ample rainfall allow these pesky, blood-sucking disease-carrying vectors to exist year-round. Mosquitoes are simply more prevalent in the summer, as the rainy season usually runs from June through August. Over the past few years, if mosquitoes seem to be worse than they were a few years ago, you can thank earlier, warmer temperatures and more turbulent weather patterns for rising global temperatures and warming waters.

CDC study predicted new species of vector-borne disease-carrying insects in the US in 2016

A 2016 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study reported the concern that “the presence of vectors with proven or possible capacity to transmit a wide range of pathogens leaves the United States susceptible to outbreaks of exotic vector-borne diseases, as demonstrated by the limited local transmission of dengue and Zika viruses in Florida and Texas.” South Florida’s position so close to the tropics makes it an ideal target for attracting new mosquito species.

New mosquito, Aedes scapularis, found in the Everglades in 2019

In fact, on NPR’s Morning Edition, the University of Florida (UF) entomologist and research scientist, Lawrence Reeves, identified a new species called Aedes scapularis among mosquitoes he collected near Everglades National Park in 2019. Reeves noted the species as “well-established” in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Until then, these mosquitoes were found mostly in the Caribbean and Latin America, and that in Brazil, they are infected with several diseases, “like Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, yellow fever virus and a handful of others.” More troubling is this mosquito likes going indoors and it feeds on both birds and people. UF entomologist Lindsay Campbell says, “If you end up with a species that’s capable of transmitting to [birds] and likes to also bite humans, that’s the prime condition for a spillover event.”

Most common mosquitoes in South Florida

The most threatening mosquitoes in South Florida are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Both of these mosquitoes are vectors of Zika virus. Other mosquito-borne diseases reported in South Florida include:

• Dengue
• Malaria
• West Nile Virus
• Eastern equine encephalitis, an issue among horse populations but known to affect humans, as well.

To date, the only mosquito-borne disease with an authorized vaccine is yellow fever and while there is no known cure, the US hasn’t seen a yellow fever outbreak in a century. Malaria can be treated with a combination of quinoline-related compounds, antifolates, artemisinin derivatives, and antimicrobials.

Deterring mosquitoes in your backyard

Florida’s state and county Health Departments use rigorous methods and ongoing initiatives to reduce mosquito populations in Florida, including eliminating standing water and treating backwater and swampy areas that are difficult to access. Everyone wants to go outdoors to garden or enjoy their pool and patio areas in the spring and summer without worrying about mosquitoes. Backyard get-togethers are in order this year with everyone chomping at the bit to socialize with family and friends more than ever. Do not let the fun end early if you and your guests are on the menu when mosquitoes come to your party. Homeowners can do their part in deterring mosquitoes from procreating in your Broward County and Palm Beach County yard and ruining your summer fun. These measures include:

• Eliminating standing water in your yard
• Correcting drainage issues on your property
• Cleaning gutters and checking downspouts for proper drainage
• Storing unused planters, cans, tires, and other equipment that can catch water in a storage shed out of the elements
• Refreshing and refilling birdbaths and pet water bowls every other day
• Maintaining pools
• Covering boats
• Trimming dense shady areas in your yard where mosquitoes like to hide during the day

Mosquito Reduction Services in South Florida

With mosquito species and populations on the rise due to global travel, international trade, and climbing temperatures, if mosquitoes are still keeping you inside this summer, maybe it’s time to call a trusted professional to help mitigate your mosquito concerns. Petri Pest Control Services has been serving your neighborhood, along with all of Palm Beach and Broward Counties from our location in Pompano Beach for 65 years. While there’s no shortage of products on the market to keep mosquitoes at bay, including botanicals, insecticides, and misting systems, most of these products and methods use ingredients that mask the CO₂ and other chemicals that attract mosquitoes to humans and pets. At Petri Pest Control Services, we offer several programs to reduce mosquitoes on your property. Our technicians are trained and licensed to place and administer these mosquito mitigating materials and devices in the proper areas in your South Florida yard.

In2Care Mosquito Trap System

Petri Pest Control is proud to bring you a new and unique approach to mosquito reduction that is both effective and environmentally friendly. Distributed by US-based Veseris Pest Control, the In2Care Mosquito Trap System is a multi-impact tool against mosquitoes that transmit harmful diseases. Made of durable, recycled polypropylene, the In2Care trap is made of durable recycled polypropylene components, consisting of a lid, central tube, click-on interface, and reservoir and makes an attractive breeding ground for mosquitoes. When a female mosquito enters the trap, attracted by odors released by tablets added to the water in the trap, she lands on a gauze strip that binds two ingredients that are released when a female mosquito enters the trap. One, a growth regulator, kills mosquito larvae in the trap and surrounding breeding areas. The second active ingredient, a biological fungus, weakens the mosquito – preventing virus development and killing the mosquito before she can transmit diseases. The In2Care Mosquito Trap System has been proven to kill, even insecticide-resistant Aedes mosquitoes, as well as the larvae and pupae inside the trap. The In2Care system uses only EPA-approved materials.

Additional Petri Pest Control Services Mosquito Mitigating Services

To minimize the risk this spring and summer and protect your home or business’s outdoor areas from the threat of mosquito-borne diseases, such as Zika virus, Petri Pest Control Services also offers services that include many of the steps approved by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences extension. These include a free thorough inspection, misting vegetation with adulticides and apply larvicides to breeding sites, and monitoring their effectiveness after applications.

In the summer, extra precautions can go a long way in keeping you safe from mosquitoes. These include:

• Wearing a DEET based insect repellent when outdoors at dusk and dawn
• Wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors at dusk and dawn

At Petri Pest Control Services, we want you to enjoy your yard’s outdoor areas without worrying about your family’s health and possible issues with mosquitoes. Contact us for reliable, affordable pest control solutions when mosquitoes try to ruin your outdoor fun from Jupiter to Hollywood Beach.