COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - Rainy season's return means mosquitoes will breed and bite. Experts urge people in Collier county to follow the 5 D's of mosquito control.
Researchers at the Collier Mosquito Control District are looking for ways to control them after the stunning number of mosquitoes last year.
"They came by the millions," Robin King told 4 In Your Corner. "We hadn't seen those kinds of numbers in many decades," she added.
The professionals focus on areas that people live in. They also measure other factors like landing rates to determine when they schedule crews and spraying cycles.
"Wherever the mosquito populations are the greatest that's where we figure out where treatments are going to be performed," King said.
Mosquito eggs can lie dormant for years. They also don't require a lot of space for their populations to boom.
"Something as small as a bottle cap off a water bottle can fill up with water easily and get a couple hundred mosquitoes out of that," King said.
Catalina Grisalez knows mosquitoes very well since she was born and raised in Collier. She is taking the bugs very seriously because she has a family to look after.
"Summer camp starts on Monday and my twins are going to be outside all the time," Grisalez said. "They'll be surrounded by bushes, humidity, and all the other attractive things for the bugs," she added.
King said the 5 D's of Mosquito Control can not only help the professionals fight the bite, but empower everyday people.
One of the first things to keep in mind is the time of day. Mosquitoes are the most prevalent during dusk and dawn. If you're not outside during those times, you run a much lower chance of encountering them.
Experts suggest dressing appropriately. Long sleeves can help protect exposed skin.
Another one of the 5 D's is to defend. Sprays and other repellant can be helpful to apply when going outside this time of year.
However, the most important thing is to drain standing water.
"Drain any standing water in containers around your homes," King said. "It will help tremendously," she added.
