Tampa Bay counties launch aerial mosquito treatments to combat rising dengue cases
Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are ramping up mosquito control operations with aerial insecticide and larvicide applications following a surge in human dengue cases and positive mosquito pool detections. The coordinated public health response involves low-altitude flights across hundreds of thousands of acres to suppress both adult mosquito populations and aquatic larvae in standing water.
In Hillsborough County, the Mosquito Control Services division scheduled aerial insecticide treatments from Tuesday, October 20, through Friday, October 23. Operations run nightly between sunset and midnight, utilizing aircraft flying at an elevation of approximately 300 feet. Contractors are treating roughly 225,000 acres spanning from Carrollwood to FishHawk Ranch using Dibrom at a rate of 0.66 ounces per acre to target adult mosquitoes.
The targeted communities across Hillsborough County include Carrollwood, Town ‘N Country, South Tampa, the USF area, Temple Terrace, Seminole Heights, East Tampa, downtown Tampa, Davis Islands, Harbour Island, Thonotosassa, East Lake, Mango, Seffner, Palm River, Progress Village, Gibsonton, Riverview, Apollo Beach, Plant City, Dover, Brandon, Bloomingdale, Boyette, and FishHawk. Operations remain subject to local weather conditions and operational variables.
Pinellas County deploys helicopter larvicide treatments
Neighboring Pinellas County is partnering with Lee County to execute targeted aerial larvicide treatments across designated sections of St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Operations utilize low-flying helicopters dispersing a fine mist of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), a targeted bacterial agent designed to eliminate mosquito and black fly larvae in standing water. Flights are scheduled between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., pending weather conditions.
Pinellas County Mosquito Control officials note that Bti affects only specific aquatic insect larvae and poses no threat to humans, pets, or pollinators when applied according to label instructions. Residents can sign up for neighborhood treatment alerts through Alert Pinellas and access further disease tracking data at Pinellas.gov/dengue.
Residents must remove standing water and use repellent
Public health authorities emphasize that aerial spraying alone cannot eliminate all breeding sites, making community participation vital for disrupting the mosquito life cycle. Residents are advised to eliminate standing water around homes and businesses, wear long sleeves, light-colored clothing, and closed-toe shoes outdoors, and apply EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
To reduce backyard breeding habitats, Hillsborough solid waste customers can dispose of up to 12 discarded tires per year at county collection centers at no charge. In Pinellas County, field teams are visiting high-risk neighborhoods with homeowner consent to help identify and clear potential breeding grounds, with personnel carrying official identification and uniforms.
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