Hillsborough County Launches Sting Operation To Reduce Mosquitoes

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL -- Tampa Bay's unusually wet spring has been great for gardens but not so great for the gardeners who tend them.

According to the National Weather Service,Tampa Bay has gotten more than 12 inches of rain since the first of the year, nearly 3 inches above normal. That additional rainfall has prompted early hatching of mosquito larvae.

As a result, Hillsborough County Mosquito Management is taking its twin-engine plane out of mothballs a bit earlier than normal to take the bite out of the mosquito population.

The county's Mosquito Control plane will fly along the Hillsborough County coastline in Upper Tampa Bay Park and Apollo Beach on Thursday, May 16, between 8:15 p.m. and 2 a.m., spaying for mosquitoes.

The product Dibrom will be used to control adult mosquitoes. If weather or mechanical issues prevent this treatment Thursday, the mission will be rescheduled for May 17-18, between 8:15 p.m. and 2 a.m.

The boundaries of the areas to be sprayed are:

Apollo Beach

North Boundary: Big Bend Road

South Boundary: East College Avenue

East Boundary: U.S. 41

West Boundary: Tampa Bay (body of water)

Upper Tampa Bay Park

North Boundary: West Hillsborough Avenue

South Boundary: Old Tampa Bay (body of water)

East Boundary: Veterans Expressway

West Boundary: Racetrack Road

The mission will be flown at an altitude of 300 feet above ground.

For areas outside the spray zones, the county has some advice.

The easiest way to prevent mosquito bites is to stop them from breeding in the first place. Mosquito larvae need water to grow, so the most effective method to keep them from reproducing is to deprive them of water.

Of the more than 40 species of mosquitoes that live in Hillsborough County, the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) have become significant pests because they closely associate with humans. In addition to being active at dusk and dawn, they typically fly and feed in the daytime. These mosquitoes can spread dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever viruses and other illnesses.

The Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes breed only in containers of water, not in puddles, ponds or ditches, and the best way to control them is by eliminating their breeding places.

Reduce Mosquito Breeding With These Simple Steps

1. Drain water from garbage cans, gutters, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where water has collected.
2. Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren't being used.
3. Empty and clean birdbaths and pet bowls.
4. Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps so they don't accumulate water.
5. Maintain the water balance (pool chemistry) of swimming pools. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
6. Repair leaky pipes, outdoor faucets and faulty septic systems. Don't let runoff water from air conditioners collect in shady areas.

Fight Mosquitoes With Free Fish

This summer residents throughout Hillsborough County, including Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City and MacDill Air Force Base, can pick up free fish from Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services to help reduce backyard mosquito breeding.

Fish are an effective, natural way to control the spread of mosquito-borne disease.

You only need a photo ID showing residence in Hillsborough County to receive fish. The county has limited quantities of mosquito fish available so they will be distributed while supplies last.

The mobile mosquito fish truck events will be in parking lots from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following Saturdays:

• June 1 – Mosquito Management Services - 6527 Eureka Springs Road in Tampa
• June 15 – Providence Skate Park - 5720 Providence Road in Riverview
• June 29 – Northdale Park - 15550 Spring Pine Drive in Tampa
• July 13 – Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay - 9330 E. Columbus Drive in Tampa
• July 27 – SouthShore Library - 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin
• August 10 – Maureen B. Gauzza Public Library - 11211 Countryway Blvd. in Tampa
• August 24 – Mike E. Sansone Community Park - 1702 N. Park Road in Plant City
• September 7 – Gardenville Recreation Center - 6215 Symmes Road in Gibsonton
• September 21 – Picnic Island Park - 7409 Picnic Island Blvd. in Tampa

Additionally, every Wednesday from June 1 to Sept. 21, residents can pick up the free mosquito fish at the University of Florida Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory located at 1408 24th St. S.E. in Ruskin from 9 a.m. to noon.

Mosquito fish are small, native freshwater fish that eat mosquito larvae. They are ideal for controlling mosquito larvae in backyard ponds, birdbaths, fountains, animal troughs, unused swimming pools and other standing water. They require no feeding and care is limited to protecting them from garden sprays, chlorine or other chemicals used for cleaning. Mosquito fish do not lay eggs and require no special environment for breeding.

For more information, click here.