Your Mosquito Season Survival Guide

Posted On: May 20, 2024

Standing water is the No. 1 breeding spot for mosquitoes. Removing stagnant water from your backyard can reduce mosquito populations.

Mosquitoes love warm, wet weather, and Florida is a perfect habitat for these blood-sucking pests. They can be found year-round, but their populations swell from June to October, making backyard barbecues and other outdoor activities a bit of a challenge. As a result, Volusia County is ramping up efforts to combat the pesky insects.

Volusia County Mosquito Control staff is managing production sites on tidal wetlands, spraying with insecticides and larvicides, digging and clearing ditches, stocking ponds with mosquito-eating fish, treating with products approved for mosquito control by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, continuing maintenance of approved source reduction projects, and responding to residential requests for service.

As we all know, mosquitoes are a pain in the neck – and the arms, legs and other exposed body parts. Most of them do not cause illness. Some, however, can carry diseases such as West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and the Zika virus. The threat isn’t limited to humans. Mosquitoes can also transmit heartworms to dogs and diseases to horses.

The most effective way to protect yourself and your family is to stay indoors throughout mosquito season. But that’s not practical, is it? Instead of hiding in your house, remove standing water from your yard and try these simple tips:

• Toss old tires, bottles, cans, pots, and broken appliances.
• Turn over empty pots and buckets.
• Replace water in birdbaths and pet dishes at least once a week.
• Don’t overwater the lawn.
• Clean out eaves, troughs, and gutters. 
• Drain water from boats and tarps.
• Maintain the proper chemistry in swimming pools.
• Empty plastic pools when not in use.

To protect yourself from mosquito bites, follow these recommendations:

• Avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks.
• Use EPA approved mosquito repellent.
• Cover windows and doors with screens.

Request Mosquito Service

Residents of Deltona, DeBary, Orange City, Lake Helen, DeLand, and Pierson may call their city. Other residents can request service online at https://www.volusia.org/mosquito or by calling Volusia County Mosquito Control at 386-424-2920.