Mosquito Control – Frequently Asked Questions
Classification: Service
KBA Code: KBA-040
Last Updated: 4/25/2024
Description
General
Are mosquitoes attracted to some people more than others?
Yes. The attraction to humans is very complex. Basically, mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide coming from the breath and pores of humans. In addition, some mosquito species are attracted to certain fragrances and colors. If you wish to be less attractive to mosquitoes, try using products that are unscented (i.e. hair spray, deodorant, soap, etc.) and light colored clothing. You can also try wearing commercially available, proven mosquito repellents. The most common proven repellent is N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide or DEET. Be sure to read the entire label before using.
Are mosquitoes just blood thirsty pests?
No. Mosquitoes don’t use your blood for food. They eat plant juices and flower nectar for energy. The female mosquito (the only one that bites) needs the protein found in blood to help her eggs grow and mature before she lays them.
How much blood do mosquitoes take?
On the average, mosquitoes take one millionth of a gallon of blood with each bite. That means it would take 1,120,000 bites to drain all the blood from an average adult human.
Who do mosquitoes usually bite?
Mosquitoes have developed the ability to take a blood meal (bite) just about any creature with blood. That means mammals (us, cats, dogs, cows, etc.), birds, reptiles (even snakes!), and amphibians.
How many kinds of mosquitoes are there?
Here in Charlotte County, there are about 37 different types (or species) of mosquitoes. In Florida, there are 76 different species form 12 different genera, approximately 30 of which occur throughout the entire state. In North America, there are about 1,200 different types. There are over 3,000 species of mosquitoes worldwide. Each type of mosquito has a common name and a scientific name. An example of this would be the gallinipper, also known as Psorophora ciliata.
What purposes do mosquitoes serve?
Mosquitoes play an important role in the ecosystem. During their aquatic phase, mosquitoes provide food for other aquatic insects such as dragonfly and damselfly nymphs, beetles, and water scorpions, fish, bacteria, fungus, frogs, and other water-dwelling animals. As adults, they provide food for bats, birds, other insects, lizards, and spiders. They also provide work for pesticide manufacturers, health specialists, mosquito control personnel, and entomologists. When mosquitoes feed on plant juices and flower nectar for energy, they perform the important service of pollinator to these plants.
How long do adult mosquitoes live?
The life span of a mosquito varies widely from species to species. Male mosquitoes typically live for only about 2 weeks. On the other hand, the female may survive for 6 weeks to about 5 months, depending on the species and the time of year.
Why do mosquito bites itch and leave a welt?
When the female mosquito bites, she injects a small amount of saliva into your capillary, the small blood vessel from which she takes her blood meal. This saliva makes the penetration of her proboscis (mouthparts) easier and prevents the blood from quickly clotting. The welt or red bump that appears after the bite are a mild allergic reaction to the saliva. Some people are more allergic to mosquito saliva than others and tend to get larger welts. Some people may be more allergic to one type of mosquito than other types. The swelling and itching may last from a few hours to a few days. Occasionally, individuals may be highly sensitive to mosquito saliva and swell significantly. In any case, you should avoid scratching these welts to prevent the introduction of bacteria causing an infection.
What diseases do mosquitoes carry?
Mosquitoes kill more than one million people each year with the deadly diseases they transmit. These diseases include malaria, filariasis, dengue fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis (mainly the St. Louis and Eastern Equine strains). They can also transmit heartworm to dogs and cats. However, not all mosquitoes carry diseases. Each disease is transmitted by only a few species of mosquito. Here in Florida and Charlotte County, we mainly focus on St. Louis encephalitis and to a lesser extent, Eastern Equine encephalitis. We have not yet seen the West Nile virus in Florida, but our department is cooperating with the Florida Department of Health in monitoring for any activity.
Do mosquitoes transmit AIDS?
Mosquitoes do not transmit the HIV virus that causes AIDS. If HIV infected blood is taken in by the mosquito, the virus is digested and quickly dies in the mosquito’s stomach. Because it cannot survive in the mosquito’s stomach, it cannot replicate and migrate to the salivary glands for further transmission (the path all mosquito-borne diseases must take to be transmitted).
What is St. Louis encephalitis?
St. Louis Encephalitis is a mosquito-transmitted viral disease. It was first recognized in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1933. Symptoms of SLE are similar to other viral infections and may include high fever, nausea, severe headaches, and tiredness. The severity of the symptoms varies from person to person. They can range from no symptoms to mild flu-like symptoms to severe flu-like symptoms and even death. Only 1 in 200 people who become infected with the SLE virus will develop the disease. The likelihood of developing SLE symptoms is generally higher for older people.
How can a person get St. Louis encephalitis?
You can only get SLE from the bite of any infected mosquito. It is not transmitted from person to person or animal to person. Only a few species of mosquitoes in a given area are capable of transmitting SLE. Mosquitoes pick up the virus from the blood of wild birds that are carrying the disease. The birds themselves are not sick. The virus incubates and multiplies in the mosquito’s body and eventually migrates to the mosquito’s salivary glands. This process takes about two weeks. In Florida and Charlotte County, the mosquito that is most often responsible for SLE transmission is Culex nigripalpus, a fresh and stagnant water breeder.
Are the chemicals that Mosquito Control sprays harmful to people or pets?
The amounts of Mosquito Control chemicals that are sprayed out of the trucks and aircraft are not harmful to people or pets. However, as with any chemical, it is a good idea to keep exposure to a minimum. If you or your pet accidentally gets hit with the spray, you might feel a momentary slight burning or stinging sensation on the skin or in the eyes and may cough briefly if the spray is inhaled. The smell is usually worse than the taste or sting. Unless you are very sensitive or allergic to chemicals, washing your skin with water is all that is needed. At the low insecticide dosage used, no other symptoms should be experienced. If other symptoms are experienced, a physician should be notified immediately.
How soon after spraying can children go outside?
The pesticides used for mosquito control are all registered at the federal and state levels for use around commercial, agricultural, and residential areas. These aerosol sprays are almost invisible because of their extremely small size. Because these spray droplets are very small, they float in the air and therefore, usually float around objects and people. Spray equipment is designed to scatter the spray material from the spray truck. Therefore, children can safely go outside immediately after spraying as long as they remain a distance of 25 feet from the spray truck.
What mosquito repellent works the best?
The most effective repellents are those which contain N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide or DEET. DEET has been sold in the U.S. since 1956 and is used by 50-100 million people each year. It repels mosquitoes, no-see-ums, fleas, ticks, gnats, horse flies, deer flies, yellow flies, and chiggers. Repellents with DEET are available as pump sprays, aerosols, lotions, creams, soaps, and sticks. Be sure to read the label carefully. Repellents with 30-40% DEET work twice as well as repellents with 75% DEET. It is always best to use the lowest concentration that is effective for you. Other products that do not contain DEET as the active ingredient have limited successes that vary from person to person. Do not apply DEET to your pets because it can make them sick when they lick it off of their fur.
How effective are bug zappers?
Regardless of the brand name or type of light, bug zappers do not reduce the number of mosquito bites you will get. Studies have shown that although mosquitoes are killed by the devices, their lights attract more mosquitoes into the area than would be there without the devices, just like a porch light. They also kill beneficial insects such as dragonflies that eat mosquitoes. If you already own a bug zapper and want to use it just to get the satisfaction of hearing the “zap”, then place it where it will attract mosquitoes away from the area you want to protect.
How effective are propane mosquito magnets?
Propane mosquito magnets can be effective if used correctly. Because they attract mosquitoes, placing them away from where you frequent is advised. Keep in mind, in order for them to work you must keep them cleaned, maintained, and provide a constant source of propane.
Do you have a set spraying schedule?
No, our day-to-day spray missions are determined by mosquito surveillance that has been performed. Areas with the highest number of mosquitoes based on trap data or landing rate counts, or where chickens have tested positive for WNV, EEE, or SLE, are given the primary focus first.
Why does it seem like the mosquito spray truck is driving so fast?
This is a common misconception. Because it is dark out, the truck is full of flashing lights, and the sound that the Briggs engine is making on the back, spray trucks are perceived to be “speeding” down residential streets. Trucks are equipped with a monitor and GPS tracking, and they can only spray between 5 and 29 mph. If they drop below 5 mph, the spray will shut off and an alarm will sound. The same will happen if they reach a speed higher than 29 mph.
The faster the spray truck is going, the less spray will be getting to us, right?
The spray system is a variable flow system, meaning that the faster the truck is going, the computer will compensate by telling the pump to pump out more chemical. This means that whether the truck is going 5 mph or 29 mph, it is still putting out the same amount of spray per acre.
How do you know you are spraying the right amount of chemical according to the label?
Every year and several times throughout the mosquito season, trucks need to go through a calibration process. This is done by a catch test, where chemical output is measured during a minute for low flow, medium flow, and high flow. The pump can be dialed up or down until the output is exactly where it should be. Likewise, droplet analysis is done by determining the mass median diameter, or MMD, of the droplets to ensure they are just the right size to land on a mosquito. This is done by dropping a slide through the spray cloud and checking the size of the droplets under a microscope, or using newer technology which utilizes a laser that measures droplets as they pass through.
How can I get mosquito fish?
If you have an ornamental pond or rain barrel that is suitable for mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki), give Mosquito Control a call at 941.764.4370. Press 1 for Mosquito Control. Upon inspection, if the environment is deemed suitable for fish, they will be brought out to you and released by one of the mosquito personnel.
What types of viruses are monitored by Charlotte County Mosquito Control?
Through the use of sentinel chicken flocks placed around the county, Mosquito Control monitors weekly for West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, and Eastern Equine encephalitis by testing the chickens’ blood for antibodies. Also, the Department of Health immediately contacts Mosquito Control if and when there is a suspected or confirmed case of other mosquito-borne diseases, such as Chickungunya and Zika virus.
Why does mosquito control use sentinel chickens?
Other than hand pulling, they must be treated with an aquatic herbicide labeled for use on cattails.
Who can I talk to about pepper tree removal?
Sentinel chickens are a great way to detect the viruses West Nile, St. Louis encephalitis, and Eastern Equine encephalitis. If they are bitten by an infected mosquito in the area, blood tests will detect antibodies to the virus in their serum. This enables mosquito control to act fast, hopefully before the infected mosquito(es) pass the virus on to a human. These chickens are dispersed around the county and tested weekly by mosquito control personnel.
How can I get test chickens placed at my house?
Currently there is a waiting list for sentinel chicken cooperators (as we call them). If you are interested in participating, please call us with your name, address, phone number, and reason for calling. We will then add you to the list. Some people on our list may never hear from us, others may hear from us within months. It all depends how long our current chicken cooperators in your area wish to participate.
Is my pond the main source of my mosquito issue?
The answer is usually no. Ponds are rarely a source for mosquitoes since they are filled with minnows (naturally Gambusia are almost always present) and other carnivores that love to eat mosquito larvae. The only caveat is if your pond contains water lettuce, water hyacinth, and/or cattails, as these plants can safely harbor mosquito species that survive by piercing the plants’ roots to breathe.
What do I see mosquito control spraying in the ditches and swales during the day?
When larvae are detected, mosquito specialists spray a bacteria known as BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) into the water. Although harmless to other aquatic species, this bacteria is deadly for mosquito larvae because it destroys their gut when they ingest it.
What can I do about my neighbors abandoned pool?
Contact Mosquito Control at 941-764-4370 (press 1) with the address to the pool, whether or not the water is stagnant, and if there is an intact pool screen or not. Mosquito Control will then send an inspector out to determine the next course of action. If the screen is not intact, we can treat it with 150 day slow-release BTI. This will not improve the quality of the water, but it will prevent mosquitoes from breeding during that time frame.
Does Mosquito Montrol spray for no-see-ums?
No, Mosquito Control only targets disease vectors. No-see-ums, although a nuisance at times, are a harmless member of the midge family.
I seem to have mosquitoes by the thousands resting on the outside walls of my house and swarming
up out of the grass when I walk through my yard, but they aren’t biting. What are they and where are they coming from?
Most likely you have midges! They resemble a mosquito but they do not bite, and they can range in color from light tan to green. They will often emerge from adjacent ponds by the thousands and prefer to rest on light colored houses. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do for this, other than wait for them to die or get blown elsewhere.
What are salt-marsh mosquitoes?
Charlotte County has two species of salt marsh mosquitoes, Aedes taeniorhynchus and Aedes sollicitans. Both species’ eggs require a drying period before they can hatch, so eggs are laid on the exposed soil of the salt flats and mangrove areas. When they become flooded by a rain or tide event, they hatch.
How long does it take for a mosquito to hatch from an egg to an adult?
This all depends on the species, food, and weather conditions. Typically, this process only takes a week in ideal conditions. The warmer the water and the more nutrient-rich it is, the faster larvae will develop from an egg to an adult.
What is Chickungunya?
Chikungunya (pronounced chick-un-goon-ya) is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. The primary vectors of ChikV are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
What should I do if I am having a mosquito issue?
First, check your yard for the source. There are many instances when a horrible backyard mosquito problem is coming from a forgotten bucket that is full of stagnant water. If no sources can be found, call mosquito control and we will come and perform surveillance.
Why does Mosquito Control sometimes send inspectors to my house when I issue a complaint?
If it is an isolated complaint and/or other forms of surveillance in the area yields little to no mosquito activity, we must rule out the possibility that your mosquito issue is coming from containers on your property. This includes bird baths and bromeliads, places where inexperienced citizens may not think to look. Also, if we can collect some adult mosquito specimens, it will give us a clue as to where they may be originating from.
I have bromeliads in my yard, how can I keep them from breeding mosquitoes?
You can flush them out with water weekly, or treat them with BTI containing products (such as Mosquito Dunks) from your local hardware store.
Do all mosquitoes transmit diseases?
No, out of the over 80 mosquito species found in Florida, only a handful of those are capable of transmitting certain diseases. That is why Mosquito Control monitors the mosquito population through trapping and lab identification. Knowing the prevalence of disease vectoring species is important for any mosquito control program.
How does mosquito control monitor for mosquitoes?
We have several methods of mosquito monitoring. One is daily landing rate counts, taken at set locations every day. This is done by standing for a minute and counting the number of mosquitoes that land from the waist down. Another method is by trapping. There are set trapping sites around the county and all mosquitoes that are trapped are brought back to the lab for identification and record keeping. Complaint calls are another way to pinpoint areas where mosquito activity may be high, and we can perform landing rate counts and/or set a trap in the area(s) of concern.
How long is the ground or aerial spray application effective for?
This depends on several factors. A spray application, under the right conditions, will kill most flying adult mosquitoes thus reducing the population to such an extent that it becomes almost immediately noticeable. Mosquito populations will remain at a low number until reinfestation occurs, which could be days to weeks depending on the amount of standing water and development of new larvae. Areas near the salt flats may experience a reinfestation of salt marsh mosquitoes the very next day after a spraying, as onshore winds tend to blow them inland.
Are there any vaccines for mosquito-borne diseases?
Vaccination is available for some tropical mosquito-borne diseases, especially for Japanese encephalitis virus infection and yellow fever. There are attempts at developing new vaccines for malaria, dengue, and West Nile virus, but those are still being tested. Horses can be vaccinated against Eastern Equine encephalitis), but there is no EEE vaccine for humans.
I have horses, should I be worried about Eastern Equine encephalitis?
Eastern Equine Encephalitis regularly occurs throughout Florida. Because there is a vaccine for EEE in horses, it is prudent to utilize it and remain up to date in annual boosters to keep your horses protected.
What should I do if I find a dead bird?
If the dead bird shows no obvious signs of trauma (i.e. puncture wound from a cat, hit by a car, etc.), then it can be brought to your local Department of Health where they will send it off for further testing. Corvids, especially, can be susceptible to West Nile virus, although recent declines in bird deaths from the virus may show signs that birds are developing a resistance to deadly symptoms.
I just returned from a trip to South America and I now have a fever and joint pain. What should I do?
Contact your doctor or Department of Health immediately and let them know of your travel history and all symptoms. They will most likely draw blood and take a urine sample in to test for a tropical mosquito-borne virus.
What is Mosquito Control doing to keep us safe from all of these mosquito-borne diseases?
Charlotte County Mosquito Control is continuing to perform routine mosquito control efforts, although surveillance measures have been stepped up to stay ahead of new viruses such as Chikungunya and Zika. Personnel have been attending workshops and meetings to remain well informed of new developments. And public outreach has become the number one priority to educate citizens on how they can protect themselves.
How can you tell mosquitoes apart from one another?
Every mosquito species has unique markings, coloration, and size. Based on these unique characteristics, a trained eye can tell them apart rather quickly under a microscope and field identification is even possible at times, sometimes with the naked eye.
Is the mosquito spray dangerous to butterflies? Do they kill good insects and birds?
Depending on the type of chemical used, the spray might kill some individuals in certain species of butterflies or caterpillars. However, any adverse effects on butterfly populations will most likely be very localized and temporary. When the chemical is applied as directed, adverse effects on populations of non-target animals, like mammals, birds, and fish, are actually absent or very minor. However, some insects (for example, honey bees) could be killed by mosquito sprays. Fortunately, mosquito adulticiding is normally done during the time of day when these insects are not active and less likely to be killed by spraying. When planning a mosquito spraying mission, efforts are made to avoid spraying near areas known to contain bee hives.
What criteria are used when deciding when and where to spray?
Spraying for larval mosquitoes occurs only when problem species of mosquito larvae are found in large numbers. This involves constant monitoring of mosquito larvae habitats. Heavy rainfall and exceptionally high tides can cause high increases in larval populations which will soon advance to the adult stage where they can become problems for humans. Spraying for adult mosquitoes occurs only after the targeted species of mosquito has reached a point where they have become a documented problem. In order to spray for mosquitoes, certain types of mosquitoes must be found in significant numbers.
What are the requirements for spraying adult mosquitoes?
Requirements are based on criteria provided by the state that must be documented. The criteria include the following:
1) When a large population of adult mosquitoes is present, a standard surveillance method, such as landing rates or traps must document an increase or a sustained high level of mosquitoes.
2) When adult mosquito populations build to levels exceeding 25 mosquitoes per trap night, or five mosquitoes per trap hour during dawn or dusk periods.
3) When mosquito service requests have been confirmed by standard surveillance methods, i.e. traps and/or landing rates.
4) Aircraft applications along beaches and bayshores only when there is a three-fold increase over the normal mosquito population levels.
How often does Mosquito Control spray for mosquitoes?
Spraying for problem adult mosquitoes occurs only on an as needed basis. The need for adult mosquito spraying can vary greatly from one year to the next due to environmental conditions, especially rainfall and tides. Only a few mosquitoes are capable of causing disease problems for people. If a species of mosquito starts increasing in number to the point where it becomes a problem for humans, mosquito control efforts begin. We conduct on-going surveillance of the mosquito population in effort to keep abreast of the situation and schedule any treatment as necessary.
How effective is the mosquito spray?
Pesticides properly applied to water kill 95%-100% of the mosquito larvae. It is more difficult to tell how effective sprays to kill adult mosquitoes are because it is not known exactly how many mosquitoes are present before spraying. Adult sprays applied by aircraft are very effective because the spray covers a very large area. Reductions of 90% in surveillance numbers before and after treatment are common. Adult sprays applied by trucks can be just as effective where parallel roads are close together, where there is a light wind, and vegetation around houses is not thick. It is less effective if there is no wind, high humidity, too few roads, and heavy vegetation.
Does Mosquito Control spray for things other than mosquitoes?
Mosquito Control exists only to help prevent health problems caused by mosquitoes. The pesticides we use are only labeled for the treatment of mosquitoes. We are only licensed by the State of Florida for mosquito control purposes. For these reasons, Mosquito Control does not treat for ants or other pests. Consult a pest control company for treatment of these pests.
Why can’t Mosquito Control spray during the day?
The main reason we do not spray during the day is that the spray would be lifted away from the ground very quickly by the rising air currents that occur during hot Florida days. At dusk and at night, the insecticide stays near the ground, where the mosquitoes are. The second reason is that most mosquitoes are active between dusk and dawn. Daytime spraying is also not practiced to avoid killing beneficial insects, such as bees; to reduce people’s and wildlife’s exposure to the pesticide; and to eliminate the potential traffic hazard of a slow-moving vehicle during high traffic volume times.
Can Mosquito Control spray ahead of time for special events, sporting events, garden weddings, parties, etc.?
It is against State regulations to spray for mosquitoes prior to any surveillance. However, if we are notified of the date and time the event is to be held, surveillance in the area could be increased. This would determine if treatment would be required before a function began. Many events do not need spraying because the event is held during the day when most mosquitoes are less active and therefore, less annoying.
How long do the chemicals last once they have been sprayed?
The longevity of a chemical depends on the chemical used and the weather conditions at the time of application. Weather in the immediate area of the spraying affects chemical droplet dispersion and deposit and ultimately its effectiveness. In general, the chemical can be gone within 15 minutes of application or last almost four hours after application.
Why can’t the spray be seen coming like before?
The spray that you used to see during mosquito spraying was produced by using diesel oil or fog oil. This oil acted as a carrier to help disperse the pesticide in the proper concentrations. Newer methods of spraying called ultra-low volume or ULV have eliminated the need for the oil and therefore, no fog is seen during the spraying. This newer method still provides effective control of mosquitoes and eliminates the adverse health and environmental effects of the oil.