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Collier Mosquito Control District: Celebrating 75 Years

by Jonathon Little, MBA
Director of External Affairs
n 2025, the Collier Mosquito Control District celebrated its Over the last 10 years, CMCD has also greatly ramped up its
75th anniversary of serving our community. Created in 1950 larval control efforts. Crews apply biological larvicides in standing
Iby the Florida Legislature, the District was originally known water across wetlands, marshes, and man-made habitats before
as the Naples Mosquito Control District and served just six the insects become biting adults. These applications are delivered
square miles of old Naples. As the area grew, so did the District’s by truck, backpack equipment, helicopter, or drone, depending on
boundaries, and today CMCD protects 730 square miles of accessibility and the size of the habitat.
Collier County. This accounts for about 95 percent of the county’s As Collier County continues to grow, the District has expanded
population. its boundaries and adapted its strategies to meet new challenges.
Expanded boundaries aren’t the only changes seen over the New communities, restored wetlands, and changing weather patterns
past 75 years. When the District began, operations consisted of a all influence mosquito activity, requiring constant vigilance and
single treatment truck, often driven by the Naples city manager innovation. Public education remains an essential component of
or other local leaders. Today, CMCD’s work looks dramatically this work. CMCD regularly engages residents through outreach
different. The District now operates a modern fleet of airplanes, events, school programs, facility tours, and seasonal reminders about
helicopters, drones, and ground trucks that work together to reducing standing water at home.
provide efficient, science-driven mosquito control for residents Seventy-five years after its founding, the Collier Mosquito
and visitors. These resources proved especially valuable during this Control District remains a vital protector of public health and
summer’s intense salt marsh mosquito season. comfort. With modern tools, scientific expertise, and a mission
The District’s evolution is rooted in its commitment to focused on service. As we look into the future, we are working on
science. CMCD uses an approach known as Integrated upgrading our facilities at the Naples Airport and rejuvenating our
Mosquito Management, which combines multiple strategies to aircraft fleet to ensure we can continue to serve the community for
reduce mosquito populations while minimizing environmental years to come.
impact. Data collection begins with routine trapping, species Anyone who would like to learn more about mosquito control operations
identification, and testing to determine where and when and would like a tour of the lab and other facilities can request a tour by
mosquitoes are emerging. This data guides decisions on whether emailing us at info@cmcd.org
and how to treat specific areas. The Collier Mosquito Control District works to safeguard the health
In the early 1990s, CMCD was a leader in developing ultra- and well-being of our residents through the safest and most economical
low volume aerial treatments. These treatments require less than means available.
half an ounce of material per acre. As a visual, that’s less than
a shot glass worth of treatment material for an area the size of
a football field. This technology allows us to conserve resources
while treating and also limits the impact to non-target species.

To learn more about the Florida Mosquito Control Association, visit their website at www.yourfmca.org.
To learn more about the District or to sign up to receive treatment notifications, visit our website at www.cmcd.org.
The Collier Mosquito Control District works to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our residents through the safest and most economical means available.
If you would like more information about how we control mosquitoes, please visit our website at cmcd.org or call us 239-436-1000.

Life in Naples | December 2025 71