Mosquito Inspections and Surveillance

Site inspections of residential and commercial properties are conducted in response to requests made by calling 311 or made electronically via the 311Direct website or the 311Direct mobile application. Inspections are usually conducted within 5 business days, depending on the time of year and the demand for services. During the particularly busy months associated with peak mosquito season, inspections may take longer than the 5-day timeframe due to the increased number of requests.

Some mosquito species deposit their eggs into water-holding containers found around the home and the resulting adult mosquitoes bite. Our inspectors carefully check the yard of the individual who requested the inspection in search of any type of container that is holding water and possibly containing mosquito larvae or pupae. When mosquito breeding is found, the containers are emptied, removing the source of the problem.

Insecticide may be used to treat large containers, such as swimming pools that are found to be housing mosquitoes. Alternatively, our inspectors may release mosquito larvae-eating Gambusia fish into abandoned swimming pools or outdoor spas and hot tubs. If adult mosquitoes are present during inspection, properties are sprayed using portable spray equipment in an attempt to kill flying adult mosquitoes.

Our team of inspectors are equipped with technology that enables them to report their findings in real time. The system directly interfaces with the 311 communications system, enabling a prompt email response to the individual who requested the inspection.

Mosquito Control relies on the data extracted from the more than 320 mosquito traps set throughout the County, as well as the volume of resident requests for services. Truck spray treatments are not performed upon request, but instead rely on this data to control container-breeding invasive species, as well as native species from the Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park.

We now post areas that are scheduled to receive truck-mounted adulticiding in an effort to reduce adult mosquitoes on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Please note treatments are done time and weather permitting. More information.

Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control inspectors and contractors can be identified by the following:

Miami-Dade County branded vehicles
Miami-Dade County branded identification cards
Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control shirts or neon vests with ''Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control'' written on the back

Mosquito Control experts use a variety of surveillance activities to identify the type and the amount of mosquitoes that exist in an area. Some of the methods used:
- Finding and monitoring places where adult mosquitoes lay eggs and where the larvae will hatch
- Tracking mosquito populations and the viruses they may be carrying
- Determining if EPA-registered insecticides will be effective
If mosquito counts recorded at a trap in the array exceeds a certain level, Mosquito Control inspectors are dispatched to the area to perform inspections and mosquito reduction activities if warranted.

The surveillance array is another tool being utilized by Miami-Dade County as part of a complete mosquito control program that aims to reduce the mosquito population to protect residents and visitors from mosquito-borne illnesses.

Traps located at the locations illustrated in the map below are monitored on a weekly basis to assess mosquito counts.
Miami-Dade County’s storm drain system is designed to clear the streets and swales of water after heavy rainfalls. When the drains are clean and free of trash and debris, they work quickly and efficiently to prevent standing water on the streets for long periods of time.
In 2006, due to an increasing number of mosquito breeding complaints related to storm drains, the County began treating storm drains with the larvicides Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, Bacillus sphaericus and Methoprene. We continue to treat and control larvae regularly in storm drains using these larvicides.

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