With mosquito season in full swing, now is the time to take preventative measures to safeguard yourself and your home. Mosquitoes can be more than just annoying; they can carry serious diseases like encephalitis (West Nile, St. Louis, and Eastern Equine), yellow fever, dengue, malaria, and Zika.

Day and night, the bug to watch for is the Aedes aegypi mosquito, a small, black mosquito with white markings on its legs and one in the form of a lyre on the upper surface of its thorax. These particular mosquitoes live quite close to humans, staying right outside or inside your home.

What are some ways you can prevent these mosquitoes from entering your home or biting?

• Drain standing water in and around the house.
• Keep flower pots and saucers free of standing water.
• Check old tires, buckets, toys, and birdbaths for pooled water.
• Flush out water-holding plants, like bromeliads, with a hose weekly.
• Discard of items where rain or sprinkler water collects.
• Clean pet bowls twice a week.
• Check your house for torn window screens, and keep windows and doors closed.
• Use air conditioning.
• Cover cribs, strollers, and baby carriers with a mosquito netting.
• Use insect repellent containing DEET or other approved ingredients on skin and clothes.
• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long sleeves when going outside on a buggy night.

Please remember, as the weather continues to get warmer, mosquito activity increases. Stop mosquitoes from breeding by draining standing water, and stay healthy during mosquito season by following the above tips.

You may place service requests for mosquito control to Broward County Mosquito Control. For more information, visit the Broward County website Opens a New Window.  or call 954.765.4062.