1201 W. Airport Road
Pembroke Pines, FL 33023
The Mosquito Control Section operates a countywide control program. Any Broward resident or business owners who are troubled by mosquitoes may request service by:
Requests will be channeled to an inspector who will spray the requested area.
Broward County Takes the “Bite” Out of Mosquito Season
We’ve all experienced the almost constant buzzing sounds in recent weeks – spring and summer brings frequent, heavy rain, and that brings mosquitos.
Photo at right: Evaristo Miqueli, Natural Resource Specialist I with Mosquito Control, examines a specimen under microscope.
Staff has been spraying throughout most of Broward County since June, applying both an aerial and ground assault against the invasion! To help reduce the number of the flying pests, the section employs nine trucks to spray standing water to kill the mosquito larvae, and to drive through residential areas spraying the biting adult female mosquitoes.
Complementing the on-ground attack, the County also conducts aerial spraying, employing a twin engine plane that targets neighborhoods based on the high population of insects that have been trapped.
Photo at Left: Eddie Grissett, Mosquito Inspector II, sprays standing water to kill mosquito larvae.
In addition to being an annoyance, mosquitoes can be a public health issue. “Our staff biologist regularly traps the mosquitoes, separates them by species and detects any potential viruses,” said Marhefka. “This becomes a very technical operation. The findings of the biologist will determine the chemical application we use, and whether we go in the air or on the ground, or both.”
To help prevent mosquitoes from breeding, residents are advised to inspect their yards and drains, destroy or dispose of cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that can collect and hold standing water, which promotes breeding. Residents should also flush plants weekly, repair leaky pipes, and maintain and clean roof gutters, as these are all potential mosquito breeding locations.
Photo at right: Mosquito Control staff, left to right, are Joe Marhefka, Manager; Martha Grimstead, Administrative Assistant; and Dorothy Granros, Administrative Coordinator.
The best protection from mosquito-transmitted diseases, such as West Nile Virus, is avoiding exposure to mosquito bites. Experts suggest that residents keep doors and windows closed, stay indoors at dusk and dawn, and dress in long-sleeved and light color clothing when in a known mosquito infested area and apply insect repellent containing DEET sparingly to clothing and skin.
Any Broward County resident experiencing a mosquito nuisance should call 954-765-4062 or make a request online at www.broward.org. Click on "Mosquito Services" under Top Online Services. Residents can also review mosquito control tips.
Mosquito Spray Request
Help Fight the Bite (Controlling Mosquitoes)
Life Cycle of a Mosquito
