Saturday, June 8, 2013

Protect Yourself Against Mosquitoes

Florida’s rainy season is upon us, and Hernando County Mosquito Control Manager Peter Taylor wants to remind residents to check their homes, lawns and gardens to make sure they are not creating mosquito-breeding sources. “Take a look around your yard and dump out any standing water that has collected in flower pots, toys, lawn furniture or any item that holds water, including ornamental plants,” said Mr. Taylor. “Mosquitoes only need a quarter-inch of water to breed. Clogged gutters or downspouts that retain water are also a mosquito breeding ground.”

Certain types of mosquitoes can carry the West Nile Virus, which can be deadly to humans and horses. According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2012 there were 73 confirmed cases of West Nile Virus in Florida, resulting in three deaths.

Hernando County Mosquito Control uses several techniques including treating standing water to kill mosquito larvae in DRA's (drainage retention areas), ditches, ponds, creeks, canals, and swamps; placing mosquito-eating fish in water bodies as biological control; placing solid larvicides in the form of 6” long white tablets in breeding areas throughout Hernando County. In order to ensure that applications are effective in problem areas such as ditches, swales, culverts, retention ponds and equalizers, citizens must be careful not to remove larvicides from areas intended to control mosquito larvae. A good rule of thumb is: If you don’t know what it is, it is wise not to touch it. These applications, while harmless to humans, are deadly to mosquito larvae, and will enable Mosquito Control to effectively control larval mosquitoes before they emerge as adults.

In addition to the larvicide techniques, spray trucks operate at night to kill adult mosquitoes. If residents still have mosquitoes after checking their property for standing water, they should call Mosquito Control for staff to come to the area to inspect and treat for mosquito breeding.

Condemned swimming pools from foreclosures, left without pumps running and cages torn, have become a mosquito breeding paradise. Neighbors residing near these pools are encouraged to contact the Mosquito Control Department so that staff may treat the pool to eliminate the mosquito-breeding source.

Residents should use mosquito repellent if they plan to be outdoors both during the dawn and dusk hours. They should also wear long sleeves and long pants in the evening. For more information, please call Mosquito Control at (352) 540-6552, or check the Mosquito Control website at: http://www.hernandocounty.us/mosquito/

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