Grab The Bug Spray: Rainy Season Is Mosquito Season And The Blood Suckers Are Back

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Grab the bug spray, South Florida's rainy season is here and that means mosquito season is here too.

Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control officials say it is already seeing an increase in calls for the annoying bloodsuckers.

The rain and higher temperatures always mean an increase in mosquito activity and County says it has already increased its spraying due to the surge in requests for service as well as an increase in the number of mosquitoes they are seeing in their traps.

William Petrie, Director of Miami-Dade Mosquito Control, told CBS4's Peter D'Oench "Temperatures are part of this but it is mainly the rainfall. Mosquitos need rain to reproduce. We are just about to launch into the peak part of the mosquito season."

Miami-Dade has more than 300 traps around the County. The areas where they regularly provide truck spray treatments for mosquito larvae have also recently been expanded.

"We have 320 traps throughout Miami-Dade and there is a new type of trap standard." He said the traps are checked regularly and "We bring back samples for our lab techs and biologists to identify species and sort everything out," Petrie said.

Broward County officials say they haven't seen a peak in mosquito spraying requests just yet, but due to the recent rain, they expect it will happen in the next week. In the meantime, they are performing normal treatment and preventative mosquito control operations, day and night.

CBS4 followed a Broward Mosquito Control worker in Cooper City as he collected samples of mosquito larvae. He demonstrated how he was collecting larvae in vials and scoured the neighborhood for pools of standing water.

National Mosquito Control Awareness Week begins Monday, June 21.

Residents and business owners are encouraged to survey their property frequently to remove any standing water in common mosquito habitats such as buckets, tires, planters, birdbaths, fountains, children's toys, and pet bowls.

By reducing the number of mosquito habitats, you're also reducing the likelihood of mosquito breeding, being bitten by mosquitoes, and potentially contracting diseases.

In Cooper City, homeowner Susan Pollock said she was taking preventative measures.

"I am looking to eliminate pools of water. I definitely want to see spraying and I am checking areas around all my plants especially after all the rainfall and I am trying to wash out sitting pools of water from my driveway."

To protect yourself from mosquito bites, cover exposed skin as much as possible when outdoors, and wear a mosquito repellent that contains DEET. Mosquitoes that carry viruses can bite indoors and during the day, so it's advisable to keep doors and windows closed.

If you are experiencing mosquito problems, call 3-1-1 in Miami-Dade to request spraying in your neighborhood or click here for more information about Drain and Cover. You can also call (305) 592-1186.

In Broward, you can also call 3-1-1, fill out a Mosquito Service Request Form online or call (954) 765-4062.