TALLAHASSEE — Every spring, they prepare to overrun our state and test our resources and patience.

No, not tourists. Mosquitoes. Billions of them, ready to hatch and swarm Florida with impacts ranging from picnic annoyance to spreading deadly diseases.

Thankfully, the Sunshine State is home to the world’s leading mosquito control professionals that work 365 days a year to manage and control “the world’s deadliest animal.”

“From cutting-edge technology to deploying professionals in mucky swamps, hundreds of dedicated mosquito control professionals are working every day to keep Floridians and visitors safe,” said Peter Jiang, PhD,  President of the Florida Mosquito Control Association, (FMCA).

The Florida Mosquito Control Association (FMCA) and its members – 60 mosquito control programs including 15 independent districts - are reminding Floridians to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites and the diseases they transmit.  

While there are months to go before the number of mosquitoes in our state peaks, their impact is already being felt.

• Coastal counties in the east and west are starting to see saltmarsh mosquito activity as rains and tides increase, and we start to see warmer weather.
• 24 and 30 cases of travel-associated dengue and chikungunya, respectively have been reported in Florida so far.
• To date, six counties have reported West Nile virus, and five counties have reported Eastern Equine Encephalitis, through their sentinel chicken programs. 
• Miami-Dade County is under a mosquito-borne illness alert due to locally acquired cases of mosquito-borne disease (DENV, CHIKV, WNV) in 2025

Last year, Florida saw 62 cases of locally acquired Dengue virus, mainly in Maimi-Dade and Brevard Counties.

But programs are training staff and preparing and calibrating equipment in preparation for our busy mosquito season. An example is coastal programs have been treating natural waterways with safe and natural larvicides to disrupt the reproduction and spread of saltmarsh mosquitoes. 

In Florida, the battle takes different forms. Mosquito control programs have implemented new control strategies such as using STI mosquitoes that have been found to be effective in fighting vector mosquito species such as yellow fever and Asian tiger mosquitoes. FMCA members have also increased the use of drones to fight mosquitoes. State scientists use research in addressing myths surrounding mosquito-repelling plants. And tactics have shifted after last year’s onslaught of saltmarsh mosquitoes with more than 150 able to bite a person in just one minute. 

Each year, Florida hosts hundreds of the world’s top mosquito control scientists to share modern techniques and observations. This year alone, scientists from around the world have found a  new target for disrupting reproduction, studied flight paths to determine what makes mosquitoes seek out humans, and somehow found volunteers willing to receive hundreds of mosquito bites to test how to combat and treat bites.

“While we do have the world’s top professionals working 24/7, we will always be outnumbered, “said Jiang. “That’s why it is so important for each Floridian to join us in reducing the numbers and risks.”

The FMCA encourages all Floridians to take small steps with big results to control the mosquito population while protecting yourself and others. These measures can be summarized with the three D’s of protection.

• Drain – Following a rain or storm, each household and property becomes a resort for mosquitoes looking for a place to lay her eggs. Mosquitoes only need a teaspoon of water to develop, so emptying even small accumulations of water outside can make a difference. 
• Dress – Wear long sleeves and long pants that are light-colored and loose-fitting. These clothing choices are a deterrent to mosquitoes.
• Defend – using EPA-approved Mosquito repellents containing DEET, Picaridin and IR3535 are powerful shields against mosquitoes. If a more natural product is preferred, repellents containing Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus are great options.

For more information about the FMCA go to http://www.yourfmca.org/. And for teachers and parents, the FMCA has resources to inform children about the science and background of mosquitoes and efforts to control them here.