Frequently asked questions
If you have a question not answered below, please call our office or email vcmosquito@volusia.org
Question: What is the spray schedule for my area?
Answer: We do not spray on a routine schedule. As required by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, we make daily decisions where we will be spraying based upon routine surveillance data. This includes the number of mosquitoes collected in traps, landing rate counts reported by our inspectors, and mosquito-borne illness activity. Click here to view recent operations and areas planned for spraying
Q: Can I be notified prior to you spraying?
A: Yes, we have a courtesy notification list for adulticide spraying using the everbridge notification system: Register to receive notifications
Q: I saw a spray truck out at night and tried to flag down the driver. Why didn’t they stop?
A: For safety reasons, drivers are not permitted to stop to talk to residents during nighttime operations.
Q: Do you service the entire County of Volusia?
A: Mosquito control services vary depending on your location.
- The primary service area is the East Volusia Mosquito Control District(EVMCD) which is based on an established taxing district where all property owners in the district pay a tax (separate item on the tax bill) for mosquito control services year round.
- Incorporated municipalities (Deltona, Debary, Orange City, Lake Helen, Deland, Pierson) located on the west side of the county have annual service contracts with Volusia County Mosquito Control that are limited by a fixed amount of funding. Property owners in these cities must contact their city representative to request mosquito control service and the city must authorize the service prior to county delivery.
- Unincorporated areas outside the EVMCD and not within a west-side city limit receive mosquito control services however, it is limited by a fixed amount of funding from the Municipal Service District (MSD). Property owners can call our office at 386-424-2920 or submit requests for service online.
If you are unsure, please call our office or email vcmosquito@volusia.org with your address and we can look up which service area applies to you.
Q: The no-see-ums are terrible, can you spray for them?
A: No, we only conduct targeted treatments for mosquitoes. For more information about Culicoides or biting midges, please refer to: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/aquatic/biting_midges.htm
Q: I just saw a helicopter flying low, is that you?
A: We utilize helicopters to inspect for mosquito larvae and also treatment of mosquitoes. We fly low to ensure the treatment is hitting the application area. It is common for our pilots to perform steep turns to enter and exit a treatment zone safely. We have a written agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which allows us to fly lower than the minimum safe altitudes declared in the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR 91.119) to perform our public health mission.
Q: Your spray truck was speeding down my road, does that affect the treatment?
A: All our spray trucks are equipped with a GPS flow controller which only conducts spraying between 5-20 mph. We have records of where our trucks traveled, how fast they were going, and if they were spraying. These records are reviewed and managed daily to ensure proper treatment.
Q: Why did your spray truck not spray in front of my house?
A: Our employees are trained to turn off the spray when people are seen outside in the spray path. If you notice our spray trucks traveling down your road or in your neighborhood, please observe from inside your home so we can provide treatment in your area.
Q: Why are you sending an inspector to my house, the entire neighborhood is bad why don’t you send a spray truck?
A: There are over 40 mosquito species in Volusia County. Our field inspectors need to determine which species you are dealing with so that we can provide a management plans specific to you and your neighborhood’s needs. We are required by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to document an increase in mosquitoes before conducting any treatments.
Q: What is larviciding?
A: Larviciding is controlling mosquitoes before they emerge into adults. As part of our integrated pest management program we apply larvicides directly to water where mosquito larvae are found to break the life cycle and reduce the amount of biting mosquitoes. Mosquito Dunks are a common mosquito larvicide that is available for homeowners to purchase at various home improvement stores. These dunks can be used according to label directions in your yard where you have standing water that cannot be drained or dumped. Click here to see the list of larvicide products that we use for treatments.
Q: What is adulticiding?
A: Adulticiding is spraying to control adult mosquitoes that are actively flying. This is done after previous control measures such as emptying containers and applying larvicides, have not reduced mosquito populations to low levels or if there is mosquito-borne illness activity. Adulticide operations are conducted after sunset or before sunrise when non-target insects, such as bees, are safely in their hives. Click here to see the list of adulticide products that we use for treatments.