I’ve got some good news and bad news about how to get rid of mosquitoes in Miami: The good news is that plenty of options are available to combat those blood-suckers. However, the bad news is that these mosquitoes have made Miami their permanent home, and they love the warm and humid climate.
Let’s get into the article and explore how to combat mosquito infestations. With the right mosquito control methods, you can enjoy the good news that you’ve got a mosquito-free property.
10 Tips To Get Rid of Mosquitoes In Your Miami Yard
As mosquitoes have become a permanent fixture in South Florida, specifically Miami, you can expect to see them around all day and night. If you are venturing out during the day, apply insect repellent and sunscreen to protect yourself.
However, when the sun goes down, it’s the perfect time for backyard BBQs and hanging outside with loved ones on the patio. Protect yourself from mosquitoes at night to avoid inviting unwelcome visitors to your get-together.
Here are 10 tips for mosquito prevention and control. They are a great way to prevent mosquito breeding in your yard. Check them out:
- Eliminate standing or stagnant water. Mosquitoes only need a bottle cap full of water to breed and lay eggs. Use these guidelines to remove standing water:
- Empty all standing water in recycling containers, trash cans and lids, untreated swimming pools, and uncovered boats.
- Repair and/or clean out your gutters of leaves and debris.
- Scrub, clean, and overturn your flowerpot saucers.
- Check any buckets, hot tub covers, and hollow fence posts for standing water.
- Drill holes in recycling containers so they drain.
- Be watchful of any low-lying areas that are now holding standing water.
- Spray the yard with a mosquito yard spray to help control mosquitoes in the lawn for several weeks or months (depending on your chosen product).
- Step into the 21st century by using a mosquito-repellent device. These devices use repellent mats that keep mosquitoes at bay so you can enjoy mosquito-free evenings with family and friends.
- Introduce mosquitofish, which eat mosquito larvae, into your ornamental pond, birdbath, or fountain.
- Use a larvicide like mosquito dunks (Bti) in the standing water of your birdbath, fountain, or ornamental pond. They are non-toxic for humans, pets, and fish but are lethal when the mosquito larvae chomp on them.
- Examine your bromeliad plants because they hold water between their leaves, creating the perfect mosquito breeding ground. Here are a couple of ways to prevent mosquito breeding in your bromeliad plant:
- Flush the water weekly with a strong hosing to flush any larvae out.
- Spray the surface of any water inside the plant’s leaves with non-stick cooking spray or put a few drops of cooking oil in the standing water. (The oil covers the water’s surface and suffocates the larva when it tries to breathe at the surface.)
- Treat the water in your bromeliads with a larvicide like Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, (Bti). They are safe for people, pets, and other plants.
- Install plants that repel mosquitoes. Mosquitoes detest the smell of rosemary, citronella, and marigolds when burned or used in essential oils.
- Move the air with a fan. Mosquitoes are not the best flyers, so moving the air with a fan will disorient them and disrupt our scents of carbon dioxide and sweat.
- A ceiling fan works well to help repel mosquitoes if you have a porch.
- An outdoor pedestal floor fan will move air around outside.
- Repair any damaged screening on patios, windows, doors, and porches.
- Avoid being outdoors when mosquitos are more active during dawn and dusk.
Year-Round Mosquito Residents
Oh boy, those pesky mosquitoes just won’t quit in Miami-Dade County! Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine collaborated with the Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control Division to investigate.
They found that these little bloodsuckers are now active all year round. It’s no surprise — with that warm and humid climate, they just can’t resist the chance to reproduce.
Mosquitoes and Miami’s Climate
Mosquitoes’ Temperature Requirements for Survival
Did you know that mosquitoes need temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit to survive? And depending on the species, they also require water or damp areas to mate and lay their eggs. Interestingly, mosquitoes thrive best at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the ideal temperature to eat, mate, and lay their eggs.
Mosquito Season in Miami
Miami provides an ideal habitat for mosquitoes as the region’s temperatures usually remain above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and fluctuate between 62 degrees Fahrenheit and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
They are quite happy in Miami due to the hot and humid summers. The winters are also somewhat comfortable for them, with mostly clear and humid conditions, occasionally accompanied by winds.
Rainy Season in Miami
The rainy season in Miami spans from May 15th to October 15th and is characterized by 60-70% of the yearly rainfall. This leads to an increase in the population of mosquitoes. During the rainy season, more stagnant water hangs around and female mosquitoes have many places to choose from to lay their eggs.
Mosquitoes After Hurricane Season in Miami
After a hurricane, it’s common to experience damp and humid conditions that can lead to an uptick in the mosquito population. Assess your property after the hurricane for any damage and standing water.
Note: Certain species of mosquitoes might appear more after a hurricane or flood. These mosquitoes prefer standing water or moist, damp soil to lay their eggs.
Photo Credit: PongMoji / Canva Pro / License
Floodwater mosquitoes like Culex sp. prefer to lay their eggs in moist soil. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus like to lay their eggs in standing water.
Does Miami-Dade County Spray for Mosquitoes?
Yes. They currently utilize truck and aerial spraying to reduce the mosquito population and the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
Truck Spraying
The truck spraying eliminates the larvae or adult mosquitoes. Larvicide truck treatments are performed pre-dawn to kill the larvae with Bti. Adulticide truck treatments are performed overnight when adult mosquitoes are super active.
Note: The Miami-Dade website has a truck spray schedule and zone boundaries.
Aerial Spraying
Miami uses aerial spraying to control nuisance mosquitoes rather than those that carry mosquito-borne diseases. When there is an increase in complaints from residents reporting mosquitoes as a nuisance, they step up their efforts.
These aerial spray treatments specifically go after the black salt marsh mosquito, Aedes taeniorhynchus. This species is an aggressive biter but isn’t a vector for diseases.
Note: For more than forty years, naled, an EPA-registered pesticide, has been utilized for aerial spraying to control adult black salt marsh mosquitoes.
FAQ
There are several benefits of mosquito control. Fewer mosquitoes means:
• Reduced risk of mosquito-borne illnesses: You can rest easy knowing that mosquito prevention and control will reduce potential health risks associated with vector-borne diseases.
• Better living outdoors: You’ll prevent mosquito bites, your yard will be protected, and you can enjoy your outdoor activities again.
• Better for pets: Use dog mosquito repellents to protect your pooch from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne illnesses. You’ll be able to spend more quality time outside without worrying about their health.
Contact spray insecticides are also being used, but this method has a caveat. The spray must have contact with the mosquito to kill it. They are also not very long-lasting and quickly biodegrade. These are typically applied while walking on the ground and manually spraying with a sprayer.
Unfortunately, these insecticides don’t prevent mosquitoes from an area. Any adult mosquito that flies into an area after it has been sprayed is not eliminated.
No. Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control found the secret sauce for stopping the cycle of local Zika transmission in 2016. A combination of aerial treatments using naled and aerial and truck treatments using Bti stopped Zika transmission. These treatments targeted Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the Wynwood area and Miami Beach.
Miami currently has several resources available to local homeowners if they are concerned about mosquito prevention and control. They are as follows:
• They have a mosquito control program called “Drain and Cover.” It gives you information on ways to prevent mosquito bites and the spread of disease by mosquitoes.
• For significant mosquito problems, or if you want to report areas of standing/stagnant water, you can complete a mosquito inspection request form on the 311 Direct website or download the 311 Direct app.
Call In The Pros
Need mosquito control? Pest Gnome connects you to the best pest control experts in your area. Once the pros have diagnosed and resolved your mosquito problems, you’ll only be left with good news about your mosquito-free yard.
Main Image Credit: Ebyabe / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
