By Cindy Mulla, Public Relations & Education, Beach Mosquito Control District
Summer has officially arrived at Panama City Beach (PCB), Florida! All outdoor activities are in full swing in backyards and recreational parks. A positive energetic population explosion of residents and visitors are enjoying a variety of different outdoor activities, ball games, concerts, day camps, fishing, barbecues, and family reunions. Everyone patiently and anxiously awaited an entire year for the summertime festivities to begin! Each person enjoys the PCB great outdoor space except when the mosquitoes arrive as unwanted guests.
How can you be a superhero to protect yourself, family, and friends from this tiny foe that tries to suck all the outdoor fun away? Be a PCB Superhero and “Fight the Bite!” Please read on and follow these simple steps to enhance your outdoor fun.
All superheroes have a special protective force field. You have one at your fingertips too. Always, remember before heading outdoors, to put on the invisible protective shield of insect repellent to protect yourself against the bite of the female mosquito. Repellents are safe and effective when used correctly following the label instructions. You have an array of repellent choices available. To correctly choose a repellent, make certain it is both approved and registered by the Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) and has one of the following active ingredients. DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or Para-menthane-diol (PMD). Re-application of insect repellent is key for proper protection.
Remember, the lower the percentage of the active ingredient, the more frequently you will need to re-apply it. Personal protection begins with you!
Take heed to the important phrase, William Shakespeare wrote in his famous play Julius Caesar; “Timing is everything.” The statement is also true when avoiding mosquitoes. After a day’s worth of fun in the sun, everyone enjoys relaxing in the refreshing PCB summer evenings. Unfortunately, peak mosquito activity is during these pleasant dusk (and dawn) hours too. Before heading back outdoors for the evening to embrace the outdoor nightlife, reapply your protective repellent shield or if possible, limit your outdoor activities at dawn and dusk. A newer item on the market to deter mosquitoes from biting is a portable battery-operated mosquito-repellent lantern. This lantern safely creates a barrier between you and mosquitoes. It works by thermally heating up an EPA-approved repellent and broadcasting it by a fan so you can relax poolside or enjoy your other favorite outdoor activities. Each mosquito lantern creates an environmentally friendly 15-foot protective zone that can last up to 12 hours. Citronella candles still work (4 candles per 50-foot area). Other effective options are mosquito coils or safely using an oscillating fan.
Be a proactive superhero! Lower mosquito population numbers by eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites. Weekly, check your business or private property for possible standing water locations. Common mosquito breeding areas are bird baths, boats, buckets, canoes, coolers, fountains, kayaks, plant saucers, chemically imbalanced pools/hot tubs, trash cans, toys, watering cans, wheelbarrows, or anything else that can hold water for an extended period. Seventy-Five percent of the mosquito life cycle is in the water apart from the adult stage. Therefore, water is essential to its life cycle. Remember, “Drain or the mosquitoes will remain!” It only takes 7 to 10 days from the egg stage to the adult mosquito. By eliminating these locations, you are also preventing the possible spread of mosquito-borne disease.
If the above mosquito prevention suggestions have not resolved your mosquito concerns, contact PCB’s experts Beach Mosquito Control District (BMCD) for relief. The service BMCD offers to residents and visitors is paid for by a local ad-valorem tax. We encourage both residents and visitors to place a service request by contacting the district directly at (850) 233-5030 or to submit a service request on our website www.pcbeachmosquito.org. We offer same-day inspections and environmentally friendly solutions during our normal business hours of operation, Monday – Friday 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Beach Mosquito Control District would like to extend our best wishes for a fun and safe summer to all the local Panama City Beach area residents and visitors.
