Nighttime larvicide spraying set to curb disease-carrying mosquitoes in select neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Broward County is increasing its efforts to reduce the local mosquito population before the summer season reaches its peak. In line with this strategy, truck-mounted insect spraying is planned for specific Fort Lauderdale areas from May 19 to May 23, 2025. Run by the Mosquito Control Section of Broward County Public Works, the operation will primarily target container-breeding mosquitoes—a population recognized for spreading major diseases.
Weather allowing, the county’s mosquito control crews will roll out after dark, operating between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. As mapped out by the county, specialized trucks will be providing a larvicide treatment in selected neighborhoods over those evenings. The aim is straightforward: eliminate mosquito larvae before they can grow into biting adults. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, both infamous for spreading diseases including dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever, are the major targets of this campaign.
VectoBac WDG, the larvicide currently in use, is a product made specifically for this type of work. Active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, or Bti—a naturally occurring, biodegradable bacterium that destroys mosquito larvae but offers no damage to humans, pets, bees, or aquatic species. The formula has been included by the Organic Materials Review Institute as well as approved by several health and environmental organisations like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization.
Officials are fast to assure residents that the treatment is exact and safe. Aiming straight at these hotspots, the larvicide targets container-breeding mosquitoes laying eggs in small, stagnant pools of water—like those found in buckets, flower pots, birdbaths, old tires, or even the water-holding pockets of landscaping plants such as bromeliads and traveler’s palms. Unlike broad insecticide fogging, this method keeps other beneficial animals and pollinators undisturbed.
The county’s mosquito control program is more than just a one-time occurrence. Working all year, Broward staff closely cooperate with the Florida Department of Health and code enforcement authorities in all 31 cities. Especially when the danger of mosquito-borne illnesses increases with warmer weather and summer rains, the goal is to minimize mosquito breeding sites wherever they occur and control populations.
The battle against mosquitoes also depends on residents and business owners. Local authorities ask everyone to check around their property often, empty any standing water, and remove objects that might accumulate rain. Even something as tiny as a lost bottle cap could turn into a mosquito breeding ground in days.
Anyone suffering from mosquitoes or want to ask county services may contact 311 or complete an online form. Officials are optimistic that by combining county action with community involvement, they can significantly reduce the local mosquito population and maintain Fort Lauderdale’s communities safer and more pleasant all summer long.
