‘I get chewed to death’: St. Lucie County tackles mosquito breeding after heavy rain
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. —
Crews with St. Lucie County mosquito control are working to stop mosquitoes from breeding after recent rain created standing water.
In a residential neighborhood near U.S. 1 and Fort Pierce, mosquito control teams treated swales and used a backpack blower to distribute larvicide. Officials said the rain has increased standing water, which allows mosquito eggs to hatch.
“So relative to last year, mosquito calls have been pretty reduced, but at any moment’s notice following a lot of rain, we can have a huge strike in population, so it’s important to be on top of our game,” said Daniel Tuzzolino, senior entomologist at St. Lucie County Mosquito Control.
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Kenneth Fusco, a nearby resident, shared his experience with the mosquito problem.
“If I go out in my front yard and start to do anything, you get bit. I have an island behind me with some cats. If I go over there, I have to wear long pants because I get chewed to death,” Fusco said.
He added, “Park the truck and leave it for 20 minutes and leave it in front of my house, please!”
Crews are also monitoring reports of dengue fever and West Nile virus in surrounding counties. They are asking residents to empty or remove containers holding water to prevent mosquito breeding.
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“We are really doubling down and making sure that the people of St. Lucie County know the importance of tipping and tossing because anything that you do to remove potential environment for those dangerous mosquitoes really helps reduce the likelihood that we have transmission in this county,” Tuzzolino said.
Thursday’s heavy rain also caused erosion and a washout along Indian River Drive, where crews were completing a shoulder repair project designed to protect the roadway during heavy rain events.
More rain is expected, which could lead to additional standing water and, Tuzzolino said, “A lot more mosquitoes! A lot more mosquitoes!”
If you are dealing with a mosquito problem near your home, contact St. Lucie County mosquito control at 772-462-1962 or email mosquito@stlucieco.org.
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