Page 71 - May-June 2025 Life In Naples Magazing

Preparing for Peak Mosquito Season

by Patrick Linn

ach year as our seasonal residents return north for the While salt marsh mosquitoes can be a nuisance, these
summer, Southwest Florida prepares to welcome a mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Culex nigripalpus
Edifferent type of visitor. Due to Florida’s subtropical and Culex quinquefasciatus pose serious health concerns. The Aedes
climate, our area experiences mosquitoes year-round. However, mosquitoes are known to transmit tropical diseases such as yellow
during the summer rainy season, the mosquito population fever and dengue, while the Culex mosquitoes carry diseases such
grows exponentially. as encephalitis and the West Nile virus.
The start of mosquito season in the late spring often brings Dengue has become especially prevalent in Florida, with an
a heavy dose of Aedes taeniorhynchus, informally known as salt exponential growth in cases over the last several years. This has
marsh mosquitoes. These mosquitoes lay their eggs in mangrove led many experts to believe that the virus is now endemic to the
beds, where they can lay dormant for years. When high tides state. Earlier this year, Puerto Rico declared a state of emergency
come in and saturate the beds, the eggs start to develop. At the due to Dengue, and tourism and commerce between Florida and
adult stage, large broods of salt marsh mosquitoes come off the Puerto Rico means that we are likely to continue seeing more cases
coast and use prevailing winds to travel up to 40 miles. throughout the state.
While these mosquitoes don’t carry disease, they are We enjoy many perks of living in Southwest Florida, but the
extremely aggressive biters. Collier Mosquito Control District climate that draws so many people to our region also creates
(the District) recommends using bug spray and wearing a perfect breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes.
long sleeves, when possible, to protect yourself. Due to their Throughout the summer, the District will be monitoring our
migratory nature, salt marsh mosquitoes can pose challenges community daily to identify problem areas and promptly jump into
when it comes to treatment. District aircraft can treat action to alleviate the threats posed by these insects. However, the
mosquitoes that are present at the time of treatment, but during entire community needs to do their part in fighting the bite.
salt marsh season broods are continuously coming off the coast By remembering the “Four Ds,” you can help your family have
replacing the mosquitoes that have just been taken down. a safe and fun summer:
As we move deeper into the rainy summer months, disease- Drain Drain standing water from containers around your home.
carrying mosquitoes that breed in standing water become Dress Wear long sleeves and pants outdoors when it is reasonable.
more prevalent. Unlike the salt marsh mosquito, everyone can Defend Use an EPA-approved mosquito repellent with DEET,
help limit the population of these mosquitoes by maintaining picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
pools and fountains and emptying containers of standing Dusk & Dawn Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most
active.
water on their property. These mosquitoes can lay their eggs in
The Collier Mosquito Control District works to safeguard the health
something as small as a soda bottle cap that is holding water.
and well-being of our residents through the safest and most economical
Anyone who has areas of standing water that are not able to be
means available.
poured out may request free mosquito-eating fish from
If you want more information about how we control mosquitoes,
the District.
please visit our website at cmcd.org or call us at 239-436-1000

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 | May, June, July 2025 71