Broward County reschedules weekend aerial mosquito spraying to July 15–16 due to stormy weather
Broward County, Florida – The original plan for aerial mosquito spraying in some sections of Broward County was pushed back because of bad weather. The spraying was supposed to happen on the weekend of July 12–14, but now it will happen in the early mornings of Tuesday, July 15, and Wednesday, July 16, between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
After storms made it difficult for safe flying operations, Broward County’s Public Works Mosquito Control Section announced the change. The goal remains the same: to lower the number of nuisance mosquitoes that are becoming more common in numerous southwest county cities.
This round of airborne treatment will cover parts of Southwest Ranches, Davie, Pembroke Pines, and Weston. The county chose these areas based on a mix of more service requests and statistics from mosquito surveillance. Officials said that the mosquitoes they are going after are mostly of the Psorophora species, which are also called “gallinippers.”
These big, native mosquitoes are known for being aggressive when they bite and for being able to fly across great distances. Even while they don’t spread infections like Zika or dengue, their presence has made life uncomfortable for people who live in these areas, especially after the heavy rains that made it easy for them to reproduce.
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County authorities highlighted that this aerial spraying is just for adult mosquitoes and is not part of a program to stop the spread of disease. Instead, it is an effort to eliminate the annoying insects. The chemical utilized in the therapy is safe for public health and is used in very small amounts.
People who live in Florida and have signed up with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to get advance notices were notified before the new dates. People with breathing issues or concerns should stay inside during the spraying window as a safety measure.
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Broward County’s mosquito control team uses a lot of different techniques to deal with mosquito outbreaks in the area. These include backpack units, truck-mounted sprayers, and airplanes. Resident reports and data from monitoring traps help officials out where to treat.
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The public is also asked to help stop mosquitoes by getting rid of places surrounding their homes where water can collect, which is where mosquitoes grow. If you have a problem with mosquitoes, the County suggests that you call 311 or fill out the online Mosquito Service Request Form to get help.
