Aerial Operations
Daytime vs Nighttime
Our main focus is getting mosquitoes before they take flight! By targeting mosquitoes in the larval stage while they’re still developing in water, we can stop them before they become biting adults. That’s a win-win!
But here in Southwest Florida, our warm, wet environment can create the perfect conditions for mosquitoes to breed. When surveillance data and mosquito numbers show adult populations have reached levels requiring treatment, we may need to take the fight to the sky at night, too.
For larger, broader areas needing treatment, aircraft allow us to efficiently cover more ground and reduce adult mosquito populations where the data shows treatment is needed.
It’s all part of our mission to protect public health, reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease, and provide relief from biting mosquitoes.
Daytime Aerial Operations
Target: Mosquito larvae, the stage where mosquitoes are still in water.
What you may see:
During aerial larviciding treatments, our helicopters fly at treetop level, following precise back-and-forth flight paths and using specialized ag turns to efficiently move from one treatment line to the next over targeted mosquito breeding areas.
What are we doing?
Applying larvicides to areas where mosquito larvae are developing in water.
Why fly so low?
Flying at treetop level helps get the treatment through the vegetation and into the water below, where mosquito larvae are developing.
What product is being used?
Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) — a naturally occurring bacterium used to target mosquito larvae developing in water.
Why during the day?
Crews can precisely target breeding areas and treat mosquitoes before they become biting adults.
You may also see:
Helicopters flying, hovering, or landing in different areas while crews conduct aerial inspections of places that are difficult to reach on foot.
Goal: Stop mosquitoes before they can take flight!
Nighttime Aerial Operations
Target: Adult Mosquitoes in flight
What you may see:
Aircraft flying low after sunset over larger areas
A little goes a long way!
Only about a shot glass worth of EPA-registered product is needed to treat an area approximately the size of a football field.
What product is being used?
Nighttime adulticiding treatments use an EPA-registered product applied as extremely fine droplets designed to target flying adult mosquitoes.
Why at night?
Treatments take place after sunset when adult mosquitoes are most active and beneficial insects, such as pollinators, are less active.
Goal: Reduce biting adult mosquitoes and provide relief.