Repellants and Remedies for Mosquito Bites
Even though mosquitoes in Southwest Florida never really take a break, the transition into dry season usually means the end of peak populations of the little buggers.
This year, however, heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Eta has left water sitting throughout the area — a prime breeding habitat for mosquitoes.
“Typically, really from the end of April to October is the peak time where mosquitoes are more active,” Eric Jackson with the Lee County Mosquito Control District said, “October gets drier, shorter days so there is less time for mosquitoes to grow.”
Water has been relentless, though, especially in eastern parts of Lee, he said. Canals on Buckingham Road remain full and cow pastures are still covered with water, both prime spots for mosquitoes to breed.
In the last week, Jackson said the district was out every day trying to control the larvae.
At the Collier County Mosquito Control District, Robin King said the week following Eta also saw lots of reports of mosquitoes coming in.
“About five days after (Eta) we started seeing people submitting reports though our website,” she said. “We even have a treatment mission going out tonight.”
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Both districts have several ways to find out where large mosquito populations are including traps laid out through the counties.
Jackson mentioned one technique called landing rates, where an inspector will go to a shaded area and try to stir up mosquitoes in the vegetation. The inspector will then stand still for a minute or so and count how many mosquitoes land on them.
“Some place you may have 1 or 2 mosquitoes and that’s pretty good for say a salt marsh,” he said. “But if in that same area there are 300, then there’s a problem.”
The districts deploy both trucks and aircraft to help quell the mosquitoes. This week, Collier’s district has had its trucks driving through Golden Gate Estates using a naturally derived larvicide called BTI.
“BTI will target mosquito larvae and black fly larvae in water,” King said. “It’s used in organic farming and does not affect any other organism.”
On Thursday morning, Jackson said Lee’s district was preparing two planes to cover the Buckingham and Lehigh area for an adulticide sortie. The district won’t necessarily send out trucks or planes for every call they get, but once the data collected shows a rising population, it will take action.
“We are out there in force working around the clock,” he said.
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Jackson and King both advise residents to do their best to remove any standing water in planters, garbage cans and other areas to help stop mosquitoes from breeding.
King further advised to try and limit going outside during high feeding times, dawn and dusk, and wear pants and long sleeves when possible.
Mosquitoes can spread diseases even in the cooler, drier months in Southwest Florida and people should use repellents.
King said the Centers for Disease Control and Environmental Protection agency have recommended repellents on the respective agencies’ websites. She said something with DEET works best.
“People need to protect themselves and do their part dumping out water,” she said.
Karl Schneider is an environment reporter. Send tips and comments to kschneider@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @karlstartswithk
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