Your new house has a problem. You knew this before you bought it. The place is gorgeous inside and out. Lots of open space. A lush yard. A patio that has a top-of-the-line grill. A bar. It’s what the deck doesn’t have that is the problem: screens.
Unlike many Florida patios, the previous owner decided not to enclose the space, which means bugs, which also implies bug bites. More specifically, mosquito bites.
What You Need To Know About The Different Types of Mosquitoes in Florida
You thought this would be a minor problem, that you could avoid the busiest mosquito times and enclose the space when you had enough money. Except there doesn’t seem to be a time when mosquitoes aren’t around. And you can no longer tell where the bug bites end, and your skin begins.
Is there anything you can do to protect yourself from mosquitoes? Absolutely. It starts with learning about what you’re up against. Unfortunately, that’s a tall order.
How Many Species of Mosquitoes Are in Florida?
Have you ever wondered exactly how many mosquito species live in Florida? You might be surprised to hear the total tally: eighty. This means that Florida has more mosquito species than any other state in the country. Thanks, Sunshine State!
Of course, not all of those species bother people or pets, but that number is only slightly more manageable: 33. Luckily, we can narrow it down even further. Of those 33, only 13 can make people sick.
So, let’s stick to those mosquito species, the worst of the worst.
Aedes aegypti
The Aedes aegypti, also known as the yellow fever mosquito, transmits its namesake disease, dengue, and the Zika and Chikungunya viruses. These mosquitoes feed during the day and are located statewide.
Aedes albopictus
The Aedes albopictus is sometimes known as an Asian tiger mosquito. This species also can transmit dengue and the Zika and Chikungunya viruses. Shared hosts include people, dogs, rabbits, and other mammals. These mosquitoes also feed during the day and, like Aedes aegypti, can be found throughout Florida.
Aedes triseriatus
The Aedes triseriatus can spread LaCrosse encephalitis, although mainly in the Midwest. This species feeds in the evening and early morning, and all day. This type of mosquito is also found across the state of Florida.
Anopheles albimanus
The Anopheles albumaus is a tree-hole breeding mosquito invasive in the United States and can transmit malaria. Unfortunately, people are the most common host for this type of mosquito. These mosquitoes feed at night in southern Florida, specifically in Dade, Lee, Collier, Palm Beach, and Monroe Counties.
Anopheles barberi
This type of mosquito can also be a vector for malaria and also breeds in tree holes. Like Anopheles albimanus, people are the most common host for Anopheles barberi. These mosquitoes feed at night and are mostly found throughout northern Florida and in a few southern counties, specifically Palm Beach, Escambia, Hendry, Leon, Putnam, Duval, Alachua, Bay, Flagler, and Jackson.
Anopheles crucians
If you get bitten by an Anopheles crucians, you could contract malaria. This mosquito species feeds on both people and mammals and can bite both day and night. Anopheles crucians are found across the state of Florida.
Anopheles grabhamii
Although the Anopheles grabhamii can spread malaria, this mosquito species is unlikely to cause many problems in the United States. People are the most common host, and this species is located in the Florida Keys but is relatively new and not yet established enough to have a distinct feeding time.
Anopheles punctipennis
The Anopheles punctipennis can help spread both malaria and dog heartworm. This species feeds primarily on people and animals and provides at night. Although this mosquito is prevalent, it is not currently found across Florida.
Anopheles quadrimaculatus
The Anopheles quadrimaculatus is another species that can transmit malaria. People and livestock are the most common hosts. These mosquitoes feed at dusk and nighttime. Like the Anopheles punctipennis, this species is not quite statewide but very widespread.
Anopheles walkieri
This type of mosquito can also be a vector for malaria. Humans are the most common host and although the Anopheles walkieri is widespread, it is not quite statewide.
Culex declarator
The Culex declarator is relatively new to Florida. In Trinidad and Brazil, incidents of the Turlock virus and St. Louis encephalitis have been linked to this type of mosquito. Although it’s unknown how widespread this bug is in Florida, these mosquitoes have been collected from Monroe and Indian River Counties.
Culex nigripalpus
The St. Louis and West Nile encephalitis viruses and dog heartworm can be transmitted by the Culex nigripalpus. These mosquitoes commonly feed on people or birds at night and can be found throughout Florida.
Culex quinquefasciatus
The Culex quinquefasciatus, the southern house mosquito, can spread Wuchereria bancrofti and St. Louis and western equine encephalitis. Although this mosquito species commonly feeds on birds, they also use people as hosts. These mosquitoes are found statewide and feed at night.
Culex tarsalis
True to its common name, the Western Encephalitis Mosquito is the primary vector for this brain inflammation, as well as California and St. Louis encephalitis. This species commonly feeds on birds and is located in northwestern and western coastal Florida.
If you own pets or livestock, it’s also important to know that another 13 mosquito species can transfer diseases to dogs, horses, and others. These mosquitoes can spread illnesses such as dog heartworm and Eastern equine encephalitis.
How to Keep Safe Around Florida Mosquitoes
Even beyond specific diseases, mosquito bites are not particularly pleasant. Everyone who gets bitten will feel itchy, and scratching mosquito bites worsens them. But some people itch more than others, and the sensation can be truly frustrating.
As you can see from the feeding times and locations listed above, there’s no “safe” time to avoid mosquitoes altogether. Half feed during the day, and the others find prey at night. Multiple mosquito species are present in most areas, so if you keep away from one, you’re almost guaranteed to run into another–unless you don’t go out.
So, how can you protect your home, yard, and yourself from mosquitoes?
Know the season
While Florida mosquitoes never completely go away, they are certainly more active during the actual “Florida mosquito season” here. Unfortunately, that season tends to be pretty lengthy due to our warm weather.
In Southern Florida, mosquito season can begin as early as February and continue through most of the year. In Northern Florida, mosquito season usually starts in March and follows a similar pattern.
The basic rule of thumb is that the warmer it is, the more active mosquitoes are likely to be.
Avoid dusk and dawn.
While there’s no time of day to altogether avoid all mosquitoes, just like with “mosquito season,” there are times when they are more active, namely dusk and dawn.
If you like watching the sunrise (or set), try to find a good window vantage point instead of venturing inside unless you are OK with getting bitten.
Get rid of standing water
Undoubtedly, you’ve heard this one before, but it bears repeating. Mosquitoes are attracted to standing pools of water because eggs need water to hatch. Keep your house and yard free of all standing water in flowerpots, buckets, and other containers, and if possible, look nearby in your neighborhood and get rid of additional standing water.
Thin your plants
Lush, verdant plant life can be beautiful but also a mosquito magnet. Besides water, mosquitoes love resting in dense vegetation that can keep them warm and moist.
Come up with landscaping solutions that look beautiful without turning your yard into a jungle.
Seal everything
Take the time to close any cracks, holes, or gaps (especially near windows and doors) that may let mosquitoes into your house. This may mean using caulk, weather stripping, or another sealant or inspecting and patching screens.
If you have an outdoor patio area, the best thing you can do is enclose it. Yes, this is costly, but it’s the best way to protect yourself from mosquitoes and enjoy your patio. Additionally, “seal” yourself by wearing long sleeves and pants and tucking pant legs into socks. If there’s no accessible place for mosquitoes to bite, the mosquitoes will move on.
Enlist the help of natural predators.
Frogs, birds, dragonflies, and certain kinds of fish eat mosquitoes. If you’ve already got a little pond in your yard, fill it with fish so you’ll have something to help with the mosquitoes and get the bonus of a lovely water feature in your backyard. Attract birds by putting up a bird feeder or introducing beneficial bugs into your garden to help keep mosquitoes away.
Naturally, you won’t get every mosquito by surrounding yourself with predators, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
Use mosquito nets
Can’t entirely cover the cost of an enclosed patio? Mosquito nets can be a decent stop-gap measure–especially if you spray them with repellant.
The CDC says you should use a sturdy net that contains 156 holes per square inch at a minimum.
Learn about traps
Mosquito traps can be divisive, with some people swearing by them and others complaining that they bring in more mosquitoes. The truth is more complicated.
The issue with traps is that their effectiveness depends on several different factors. In our years of helping people with their mosquito problems, we’ve learned firsthand that it matters where they’re placed, which Florida mosquito species you’re dealing with, what your landscape is like, how large the population is, and so on. Because of these complexities, traps are best left to the professionals.
ABC Knows Mosquito Control
If you’re dealing with a severe mosquito issue and have been thinking about using traps or other chemical solutions, contact the ABC Home & Commercial Services experts before deciding. You set up an appointment so that one of our experienced professionals can come to you to assess the situation and make recommendations based on what they see. With so many risks and potential health issues associated with mosquitoes, you owe it to yourself and your family to take the problem seriously and deal with it promptly and effectively.