Accessibility Public Records News Calendar Human Resources

Mosquito Prevention and Protection Tips

The best way to protect yourself and your family is to practice the 3 Ds:

  • Dump or cover standing water.
  • Dress in loose, light-colored long sleeves and pants.
  • Defend by using a repellent with a CDC-recommended active ingredient such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535 or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.

Container-Breeding Mosquitoes

You may know these as the “ankle-biters.” Aedes aegypti is a mosquito that lives in man-made containers and standing water around your home. They are the #1 mosquito species we find at service requests. They’re active during the daytime and evening, so fogging is not an effective control measure.

The best way to get rid of these pesky mosquitoes is to dump standing water around your home. They don’t fly far — roughly the distance of three houses — so check your yard for standing water and encourage your neighbors to do the same.

Prevention

Did you know that mosquitoes only need ¼ inch of water to complete their life cycle? Breeding habitat can be found around your yard and home year-round due to rainfall and watering your plants or lawn.

Prevent mosquitoes by following these tips:

  • Dump standing water once a week.
    • Dump and refill water in pet dishes and bird baths.
    • Check common places water accumulates, such as flowerpots and saucers, wheelbarrows, tarps, children’s toys, garbage and recycling bins, gutters and AC drip lines.
  • Treat or cover what you can’t dump.
    • Cover rain barrels with 1/16-inch mesh or screen.
    • Request mosquito fish for ornamental ponds or pools with broken pumps.
    • Treat bromeliads by flushing with hose water once a week or sprinkling Bti bits once a month in the tanks (center that holds water).

If you are having a problem with mosquitoes, submit a service request. Sometimes breeding can be hard to find, or the source is a nearby habitat such as a mangrove stand or storm drain.

Protection

Mosquitoes breed year-round in Pinellas County. Protect yourself from bites and mosquito-borne illnesses by following these tips:

  • Avoid the outdoors during high mosquito activity times.
    Many mosquito species are active at dusk.
  • Wear loose, light-colored long sleeves and pants.
    Socks and shoes also help create a barrier.
  • Wear a repellent with a CDC-recommended active ingredient.
    DEET, Picaridin, IR3535 and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus are recommended. You can also try a spatial repellent device that uses repellents such as allethrin.
  • Make sure screens are intact and repair any holes.
    Avoid propping open un-screened windows and doors.

For more information about mosquito prevention and protection, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.