Volusia County, FL - Volusia County may be drying out after Hurricane Irma, but County officials say that current conditions provide a perfect habitat for mosquitoes.
As the floodwaters recede, the remaining pockets of standing water become prime habitats for the blood-sucking pests. Mosquitoes make their homes in water trapped in containers like buckets, tires, kiddie pools, bird baths, and clogged gutters.
“There are a lot of steps you can take around your home to control mosquitoes,” Jim McNelly, director of Volusia County Mosquito Control says. “The most important thing is to remove standing water from your yard because mosquito larvae thrive in standing water.”
McNelly offers the following suggestions:
- Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and broken appliances.
- Turn over empty pots and buckets.
- Replace the water in birdbaths and pet dishes at least once a week.
- Clean out eaves, troughs and gutters.
- Pick up beverage containers and cups.
- Drain water from boats and tarps.
- Cover windows and doors with screens.
- Maintain the proper chemistry in swimming pools, and empty plastic pools when not in use.
- Visit volusia.org/mosquito and click on "Tips on mosquito protection."
Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, so it’s best to avoid outdoor activities at these times. If you must go outside, wear long pants, long sleeves and shoes with socks. Apply mosquito repellent to clothing and exposed skin, and use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months.
Volusia County is expanding its efforts to control these pests. Mosquito Control staff is out in full force, spraying with larvicides, managing production sites in tidal wetlands,
clearing ditches, and stocking ponds with minnows. Spray operations for adult mosquitoes by airplane are planned after sunset. Visit
volusia.org/mosquito or follow @VCNewsInfo on Twitter for more information. Spray locations and times are regularly tweeted.
If you live in the mosquito control district, primarily east of I-95, request service online at
www.volusia.org/mosquito or by calling 386-424-2920. Residents of Deltona, DeBary, Orange City, Lake Helen, DeLand, and Pierson should call their city.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
