Submitted by Joseph Marhefka
Broward County offers residents helpful tips for controlling the pesky insects
Broward County’s rainy season is upon us and each day the humidity increases as well- making a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. The Mosquito Control Section of Broward County’s Highway and Bridge Maintenance Division offers these tips to residents to help reduce the local mosquito population:
- destroy or dispose of cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that can collect and hold standing water, which promotes breeding
- repair leaky pipes
- install screens on rain barrels and openings to water tanks or cisterns
- empty water from boats
- scrub and change water in vases holding flowers or cuttings twice each week, or grow cuttings in sand
- clean clogged roof gutters and drain flat roofs
- scrub and change water in bird baths twice weekly; empty watering areas of pets and chickens daily
- fill holes in trees with sand or mortar, or drain or spray them as required
- stock fish pools or lily ponds with minnows, which devour mosquito larvae
“Mosquitoes can be a public health issue if not properly managed,” said Joseph Marhefka, manager of Broward County Mosquito Control. “The best protection from mosquito-transmitted diseases is avoiding exposure to mosquito bites.”
Experts suggest residents keep doors and windows closed, stay indoors at dusk and dawn, dress in long-sleeved and light colored clothing when in a known mosquito infested area, and apply insect repellent containing DEET sparingly to clothing and skin.
When necessary, Broward County Mosquito Control sprays areas of the County by truck and/or plane, based on the volume of requests received from residents. To request mosquito spraying service, visit broward.org and click MOSQUITO SERVICES under Online Services, or call (954) 765-4062.
