June 23-29 is Mosquito Awareness Week
Next week is Mosquito Control Awareness Week! Now that it’s mosquito season, it is the perfect time to look in and around your home for ways to control mosquitoes that can carry viruses like Zika and West Nile.
Here are some simple steps that citizens can take to help control mosquito populations:
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Empty water from any item that can hold water.
Examples: flower pots, garbage cans, recycling containers, wheelbarrows, aluminum cans, boat tarps, old tires and buckets.
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Flush birdbaths and wading pools weekly.
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Flush ornamental bromeliads or treat with BTI, a biological larvicide available at home stores.
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Clean roof gutters, which can become clogged and hold water.
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Change the water in outdoor pet dishes regularly.
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Keep pools and spas chlorinated and filtered.
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Stock ornamental ponds with mosquito-eating fish.
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Cover rain barrels with screening.
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Check for standing water under houses, near plumbing drains, under air conditioning unit drip areas, around septic tanks and heat pumps.
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Take steps to eliminate standing water, improve drainage and prevent future puddling.
“It’s important for residents to remember the three Ds of mosquito prevention,” said Brian Lawton, program manager for Pinellas County Vegetation Management and Mosquito Control. “Dress wisely, defend with a good mosquito repellent, and drain standing water.”
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