As I sit here in my home I can’t help but be grateful that hurricane Ian hit further south. But the Tampa area did get its fair share of effects. One of them is the sheer amount of rain it dropped on us. Polk county got close to a foot! But with rain comes mosquitoes. And with mosquitoes comes Florida mosquito diseases. So let’s break down the species of mosquitoes, why they thrive in Florida, and what you should do about an infestation.
Florida Mosquito Diseases: Why do mosquitoes thrive in Florida?
Even without a Hurricane mosquitoes tend to boom in population down south. So let’s get into why that is. For one, the state’s many swamps, wetlands, and woodlands provide great shelter for mosquitoes. Not only that, but home gardens and bird baths can also provide a shelter for these pests. The climate of Florida is also perfect for nearly any species of mosquito. The warm and humid weather provides mosquitoes with the best environment for them to thrive. That’s why there are so many different species of mosquito in the state and, unfortunately, so many Florida mosquito diseases.
On top of that, Florida’s year-round high temperatures also help the pests. This may be hard to believe, but when I was younger during the winter frost wasn’t uncommon in Florida. But these days we’re experiencing rising temperatures every year, and the winter no longer gets cold enough to force mosquitoes into dormancy or cull their numbers. So now we’re in a state where mosquitoes can breed year round.
And on top of that, the state gets roughly a thousand new residents a day. And the more people you have, the more human activity you have. And that just means more people for the mosquitoes to feed on and swell their own population numbers.
Mosquito tips
Let’s briefly touch on some tips to keep mosquitoes out of your yard. Keep in mind that your number one enemy is going to be standing water. With that in mind, dispose of, cover, or put away any containers that hold fluid. That can include buckets, old tires, wheelbarrows, uncovered boats, and truck beds. It may not seem like much, but even a spoonful of water can be enough for a mosquito to lay its eggs in.
If you have a pond, lake, or other water feature on your property, consider adding fish that eat mosquito larvae. Otherwise, do your best to add a source of running water to make it harder for the mosquitoes to land on the surface.
Clean out your gutters and make sure they’re properly draining as well. Like I said above, mosquitoes don’t need much water to breed in and what collects in your gutter would serve them just as fine. This goes for overwatering potted plants as well. Some species simply need muddy soil, so a poorly drained plant can lead to some Florida mosquito diseases on your property.
Keep swimming pools and bird baths cleaned and well maintained. If you have a bird bath, I’d honestly recommend dumping it out and giving it a scrub every day to make sure that mosquitoes aren’t nesting in it. Keep your pool well cleaned and chlorinated, but if you can cover it when not in use that’ll be even better.
As for keeping yourself safe when you’ve done all you can, consider wearing long sleeves and pants tucked into boots when you go into woody areas. Also, use a repellent on both your skin and clothing.
why are mosquitoes so bad after a hurricane?
Well, when a hurricane blows through town it’s usually not that bad initially. Adult mosquitoes have a hard time surviving winds like the ones Ian brought to the bay area. However, in roughly two weeks’ time the population will boom. This is mostly thanks to the standing water left behind after the ungodly amounts of rain a large hurricane can leave on a state. Not only that, but the downed brush and overflowing ditches make perfect covers for the larvae.
This is also the time when floodwater mosquito eggs hatch. These bugs lay their eggs on muddy patches that tend to flood during heavy rains, so a hurricane will fill these areas with water and allow the larvae to develop into adults.
Florida Mosquito Diseases- The Suspects
Alright, we’ve covered why mosquitoes can be so bad. Now let’s touch on a few of the species you may run into that carry diseases. We’ll touch on the two likely most famous mosquitos that carry diseases in the state.
Aedes Agypti
Also called the yellow fever mosquito, this pest carries plenty of diseases that can be transferred to humans. This list includes dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever. These bugs came from Africa originally and spread to the U.S. through the slave trade. You’ll find them breeding in the water holding objects on your property like the ones I mentioned above.
This pest is in nearly every Florida county excluding the panhandle area.
Aedes Albopictus
Then we have the Asian Tiger mosquito. Un-shockingly, this pest originated in Asia and was brought to Florida through human activity such as international trade. It can be found in most regions of the world now. You can recognize them at a glance thanks to their tiger-stripe like white bands that cover their body. They’re daytime feeders, but also feed at dawn and dusk, so they’re one of the most noticed mosquito pests in the state.
These are vectors for yellow fever virus, dengue fever, and chikungunya. They also lay their eggs in water holding objects but can be found in every county in Florida.
Florida Mosquito Diseases: what can you do?
Unfortunately, for the average joe, there’s not much that can be done about a mosquito infestation. Instead, you’re likely going to have to call a pest control specialist. And if you do, make sure to use one like us at insectfree.com that uses natural methods that won’t put your home, property, or family’s health at risk.
