Aerial Mosquito Spraying

Aerial spraying for the control of mosquitoes is initiated in Miami-Dade County when mosquito populations are extremely high or when there is a mosquito-borne disease outbreak.

These aerial spray treatments usually target populations of the Black Salt Marsh mosquito, Aedes taeniorhynchus. This species is not a disease vector; however, it is an aggressive biter and can be a significant annoyance to residents and create a diminished quality of life for residents living where there are infestations.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), aerial spraying using the pesticide Naled is a safe, quick, and efficient method for mosquito control. Naled is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insecticide that has been used for aerial spraying by Miami-Dade County for more than forty years to successfully control mosquito populations, especially the adult Black Salt Marsh mosquitoes in populated areas. 

Mosquito control programs throughout the United States and in neighboring countries use Naled as part of their integrated mosquito control programs. 

Miami-Dade County used aerial spraying during the 2016 Zika outbreak to control populations of the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) in Miami Beach and the Wynwood area north of downtown Miami. Aerial treatments of Naled, in conjunction with aerial and ground spray treatments with a microbial insecticide, active ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), that targets mosquito larvae, successfully broke the cycle of local Zika virus transmission. 

When aerial treatments are necessary, the Mosquito Control Division uses ultra-low volume (ULV) amounts of Naled, between a half ounce to one ounce per acre (about the size of a football field), depending on the species. According to both the CDC and the EPA: “This small amount does not pose a health risk to people or pets in the area that is sprayed.”

Additional information about Naled and the effectiveness of aerial spraying, insecticides used, and simple precautions you can take when aerial spraying occurs is available from the EPA and the CDC.

You can get general information on aerial spraying for mosquito control to help answer some of your questions, where you can learn about the effectiveness of aerial spraying, insecticides used, and more. Learn more about Naled, which is primarily used for controlling adult mosquitoes.