Skeeters Begin Summer Assault, Fight Back

FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – Summer like temperatures along with afternoon rain and thunderstorms are perfect breeding conditions for one of South Florida's peskiest pests – the mosquito.

To help minimize the number of itchy skeeter bites you'll get this summer, there are a couple of things you can do.

First, look around your patio areas and yards and get rid of any cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that can collect and hold standing water, which promotes breeding. Next, check to make sure you don't have any leaky pipes outdoors.

Empty any water that collects in boats and clean out clogged gutters. You should scrub and change water in vases holding flowers or cuttings twice each week or grow cuttings in sand.

Fill holes in trees with sand or mortar, or drain or spray them as required. If you have a pond or fish pool, stock it with minnows which will eat the mosquito larvae.

"Mosquitoes can be a public health issue if not properly managed," said Joseph Marhefka, manager of Broward County Mosquito Control. "The best protection from mosquito-transmitted diseases is avoiding exposure to mosquito bites."

Keep doors and windows closed, stay indoors at dusk and dawn, dress in long-sleeved and light-colored clothing and apply insect repellent containing DEET sparingly to clothing and skin.

Broward County Mosquito Control sprays areas of the county by truck and plane based on the number of calls they get.

To request mosquito spraying service, visit broward.org and click MOSQUITO SERVICES under Online Services, or call 954-765-4062.