Mosquito trap in Florida catches 26,000 bugs in 16 hours

A single mosquito trap in Ridge Manor near Tampa, Florida collected approximately 26,000 mosquitoes in just six hours.

The trap, which ran from 3pm to 7am on Friday, September 29, caught 10 different species of mosquitoes – both daytime and nighttime biters. 

The findings are significant because normally during this time of year, a count of less than 500 would be expected.

The surge in mosquitoes follows Hurricane Irma, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, September 17. 

 

A single mosquito trap in Ridge Manor, Florida near Tampa collected approximately 26,000 mosquitoes. The surge in mosquitoes follows Hurricane Irma, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, September 17

MOSQUITO CONTROL

Following the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, a surge in mosquitoes has affected parts of Florida. 

Hernando County Mosquito Control near Tampa, Florida, has been conducting aerial spray’s of an insecticide called naled to control mosquito populations.

According to the EPA, naled is an insecticide that has been registered for use since 1959 in the US. 

Ultra-low volume sprayers are mounted onto planed or helicopters, which dispense fine aerosol droplets containing small amounts of insecticide mixed with water that drifts through the air and kills mosquitoes on contact. 

In recent years, naled has been applied to about 16 million acres per year within the continental US, and resistance to the insecticide has not been detected in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which can spread dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika. 

Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency 

‘These extra trapping efforts are giving us the info we need (active species) to best address the severe outbreaks we’ve been experiencing since the storm event,’ Hernando County Mosquito Control said in a statement on Facebook. 

‘The daily heat we’ve been having should help shorten the lifespan of the mosquitoes that have been terrorizing residents throughout the county.’  

According to Hernando County Mosquito Control, nightly spray missions are helping to knock down adult populations of mosquitoes, and field technicians are treating standing water on a daily basis to prevent mosquito eggs from hatching. 

‘We are starting to see several different species of mosquitoes in the traps, and some of them are capable of transmitting diseases,’ the Control center said. 

‘It’s important that you remember to take precautions when you are outside and mosquitoes are present, especially at night. 

‘Cover up as much as possible, and wear repellent to #fightthebite.’  

The Control center conducted a spray of a small area on the night of Saturday, September 30 and all remaining areas on Sunday, October 1st.

A single mosquito trap in Ridge Manor, Florida near Tampa collected approximately 26,000 mosquitoes. The findings are significant because normally during this time of year, a count of less than 500 would be expected

A single mosquito trap in Ridge Manor, Florida near Tampa collected approximately 26,000 mosquitoes. The findings are significant because normally during this time of year, a count of less than 500 would be expected

Hernando County Mosquito Control has been conducting aerial spray's of an insecticide called naled to control mosquito populations

Hernando County Mosquito Control has been conducting aerial spray’s of an insecticide called naled to control mosquito populations

The last time an aerial spray was conducted in Hernando County was after Tropical Storm Debbie in 2012. 

According to the EPA, ultra-low volume sprayers are mounted onto planed or helicopters, which dispense fine aerosol droplets containing small amounts of insecticide mixed with water that drifts through the air and kills mosquitoes on contact. 

The EPA says that people are unlikely to breathe in amounts  large enough to harm them, however anyone who is concerned about an existing health problem should consult a doctor. 

‘People who tend to be sensitive to chemicals in general, including household chemicals, could experience short-term effects, such as skin, eye, and nose irritation,’ the EPA says. 

If residents of Hernando County are experiencing a mosquito problem in their area, the Control center is offering a technician inspection service which can be requested via an online form. 

 

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