Fighting the Bite: Mosquito Control Staff Works Year-round to Protect Public Health

Posted On: March 4, 2026

Florida sunshine brings warm weather, outdoor adventures – and mosquitoes. But residents across Volusia County have a dedicated team working year-round to keep those pests in check.

Our Mosquito Control Division has been protecting residents from mosquito-borne illness and nuisance populations since the East Volusia Anti-Mosquito District was established by the Florida Legislature in 1937. What began with a five-man crew covering more than 500 square miles has grown into a sophisticated, science-driven operation.

At the heart of the division's approach is its Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program – a comprehensive, multi-layered strategy. Rather than relying on a single solution, IPM combines surveillance, source reduction, biological controls, larviciding, adulticiding, and community outreach to reduce mosquito populations while minimizing environmental impact.

Surveillance drives every decision. Field inspectors routinely monitor mosquito traps, conduct landing rate counts, and assess historical production sites – many by helicopter, landing directly in wetlands to collect larval samples for laboratory identification. That data determines when and where treatment is needed.

When larviciding alone isn't enough, the division deploys adulticide spray trucks and aircraft – including two helicopters and contracted fixed-wing planes – conducting operations after sunset or before sunrise to protect beneficial insects like bees. For more natural solutions, the division distributes mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki), releasing them into flooded woodlands, neglected pools, and ornamental ponds where the fish feed on mosquito larvae.

Director Marcus McDonough credits the division's success to the people behind the program.

"Our staff brings an extraordinary level of dedication to this work every single day," McDonough said. "Whether they're in the field at dawn, piloting a helicopter over a salt marsh, or responding to a service request in a neighborhood, they are committed to protecting the health and quality of life of every person in this county. I couldn't be prouder of this team."

Residents play a role, too. Simple steps – tipping over flowerpots, clearing gutters, and discarding unused containers – can eliminate the small pockets of standing water where mosquitoes breed.

To request mosquito control services or learn more, visit www.volusia.org/mosquito or call 386-424-2920.