Some of the features that make Polk County an incredible place to live— beautiful lakes, vast wetlands and a warm climate— are the same that make Polk County an ideal place for mosquitoes. Polk County Mosquito Control plays a crucial role in managing mosquito populations to protect residents from mosquito-borne diseases.
Effective mosquito control isn’t just preventing annoying bites— it’s a public health necessity. Mosquitoes can transmit many different types of pathogens that cause harmful illnesses to humans and animals, this includes West Nile Virus, Zika Virus, Dengue Fever, Malaria, Oropouche Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Dog Heartworm and more.
What Does Polk County Mosquito Control Do?
Polk County Mosquito Control uses Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) to reduce mosquito populations while minimizing environmental impacts. The foundation of IMM starts with consistent surveillance. Polk County Mosquito Control uses traps specifically designed to target and catch mosquitoes. Surveillance also consists of field inspections that give insight on mosquito populations and how they affect residents.
This information is used to determine the correct treatment intervention. IMM also promotes source reduction to prevent all life stages of mosquitoes, as well as public outreach and education to keep the public informed on how they can help reduce mosquito populations around their homes and protect themselves from bites.
The bite of some mosquitoes can transmit pathogens that can cause serious diseases. By combining these practices, Polk County Mosquito Control can take appropriate actions to protect Polk County residents from mosquito-borne diseases.
Source Reduction
The practice of source reduction will eliminate areas or objects that hold water that can support the development of mosquito larvae. Great examples of source reduction can include draining buckets that have filled with rainwater, removing tires that have no rims, filling in low spots, and checking bromeliads by routinely flushing them out. When standing water cannot be drained, safe and beneficial larvicides can be applied to prevent mosquito larvae from maturing into adult mosquitoes.
Larvicide and Adulticide
Larvicide methods can be biological or chemical. Typical biological methods can be as simple as releasing mosquito eating fish in appropriate areas, or applying a bacteria (Bti) that attack and kill mosquito larvae. Other options for larvicides are chemical treatments that disrupt mosquito larvae development. Each method can effectively kill the mosquito larvae before they mature into adult mosquitoes. EPA approved larvicides can be applied to retention ponds, ditches, some wetlands and other containers that cannot be easily drained.
Adult mosquitoes present a different challenge as they are capable of flying and can be difficult to treat. In areas with high adult mosquito populations or where mosquito-borne disease is of concern, adulticide treatments are applied to kill adult mosquitoes. The primary adulticide methods involve spraying. This can be accomplished by either truck-mounted sprayers, individual backpacks, and when necessary, by aircraft to treat larger areas. Adulticide spraying is done after sunset when mosquitoes are the most active and most beneficial insects, bees and butterflies, among others, are less likely to be affected.
How You Can Help Reduce Mosquito Populations
While Polk County Mosquito Control is on the frontlines monitoring and treating, there are steps you can take to help effectively keep mosquito populations lower at home.
Eliminating areas of standing water from around your home and yard prevents mosquitoes from being able to lay their eggs. Regularly check for things such as buckets, pots, containers, birdbaths, pet bowls, old tires or anything that can hold water, even plants like bromeliads.
Wearing mosquito repellants and protective clothing can also be highly effective at preventing bites. Make sure to use EPA-approved repellants.
Also wear long sleeves and pants outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. At home, make sure that all doors, windows and patios are sealed properly and in good repair, including any screens. Avoid leaving doors and windows open when mosquitoes are active.
If you are experiencing high mosquito activity in your area, you can submit a service request to Polk County Mosquito Control online. When making a request, it’s important to provide details about your location and the severity of the problem.
Science-Based Practices and Innovations
As a part of the staff’s commitment to Integrated Mosquito Management, Polk County Mosquito Control is also practicing innovative solutions, such as the Sterile Insect Technique (S.I.T.) pilot program.
This S.I.T. method is chemical-free and only impacts target species of mosquitoes. S.I.T. involves the sterilization of male mosquitoes in a lab using low-dose radiation. After sterilizing, the non-biting males are released in a targeted area to mate with females of the same species. The females will produce eggs that will not hatch, decreasing the mosquito population in an area over time without the use of chemicals.
Polk County Mosquito Control will monitor this S.I.T. practice through a data-driven pilot project focusing on Aedes aegypti, a non-native mosquito species that is capable of transmitting pathogens that can cause diseases like Dengue Fever, Chikungunya, Dog Heartworm, and Zika.
La noche trágica
Jolly Jamboree
Festival de coronas de flores en exposición y subasta silenciosa
Conservación del agua en el condado de Polk
La instalación de tratamiento de lixiviados del 
