MIAMI — Each year, the late spring/early summer period brings increased rainfall to Miami-Dade County, which triggers an overall increase in mosquito activity. Accordingly, the Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control and Habitat Management Division expands the scope of its truck larviciding missions to include a broader area.
The program combats mosquito breeding by introducing a fine mist of the larvicide Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), which is registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and delivered by Buffalo Turbine-equipped trucks. Bti is used in organic farming and eliminates only mosquito and black fly larvae. Click here to view the EPA page containing more information about the product. The County maintains a page that provides information about all of the pesticides currently in use.
"Larviciding represents our best chance at controlling mosquitoes before they become biting adults," says Miami-Dade Mosquito Control Division Director Dr. Bill Petrie. "This, along with source reduction, or the elimination of standing water, and a robust public outreach program, constitute our plan to 'Fight the Bite' this summer." The full truck spray schedule, as well as the boundaries for each area, can be viewed online here: bit.ly/MDCTruckSpray.
The division has also been working with Miami-Dade County Commissioners and municipal partners to distribute "Drain and Cover" rack cards, door hangers, brochures, posters and mosquito wipes to residents.
The week of June 23-29 is also "National Mosquito Control Awareness Week," and the Mosquito Control Division is busy planning a number of countywide "Mosquito Fair" and public education/outreach events, as well as online information, plus Q&A and social media chat sessions.
Residents can report mosquito nuisance issues by calling 311, visiting miamidade.gov/311direct or by using the Miami-Dade County Solid Waste Management mobile app for iPhone.
For more information about Miami-Dade County’s Mosquito Control program, please visit miamidade.gov/mosquito.
Note: Larvicide truck and mosquito inspection ride-alongs for media are available upon request.
Like the Mosquito Control Division Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/305Mosquito; follow @305Mosquito on Twitter and Instagr
