One of Hillsborough County's mosquito-monitoring traps in South Tampa turned into a literal bug magnet this week, pulling in roughly 18,000 mosquitoes in a single inspection. That same trap caught just 142 insects in June, so the sudden swarm set off alarms and sent county helicopters into the early-morning sky over parts of South Tampa. Officials linked the surge to a dry spell followed by heavy rains, a weather one-two punch that triggered a major hatch-off.
Record Catch Prompts Aerial Response
According to Hillsborough County, technicians inspected the South Tampa trap on Tuesday and found about 18,000 mosquitoes compared with 142 from that same trap in June. County staff identify and weigh trap catches to calculate treatment rates, and that kind of spike was flagged as unusual enough to justify a targeted response.
Where Crews Sprayed And When
As reported by FOX 13, county crews carried out an early-morning aerial application over South Tampa and said more spraying was planned for Friday if needed. The station noted that crews treated an area south of Gandy and encouraged residents to keep an eye on official notifications. Helicopter and ground missions are part of the county's seasonal playbook when trap counts jump this high.
Officials, Lab Work And Disease Testing
Gabriela Henderson, the county's community relations coordinator, told FOX 13 that "a jump of that size is intense" and that the spike "broke records from last year." She said the average trap haul for this time of year is normally four to six thousand mosquitoes. According to the station, technicians sorted the massive catch in the county lab and sent samples off for disease testing, and results have not yet been released.
How The Spray Was Carried Out
The county's news release said the aerial mission used a single-engine helicopter flying at about 300 feet and applied Dibrom at a rate of 0.66 ounces per acre. The spray zone was bounded by Gandy Boulevard to the north, Bayshore Boulevard to the east, Tampa Bay to the south and A.J. Palonis Park to the west. The release also listed today and tomorrow as first and second alternate spray dates and provided contact information for Mosquito Management Services for residents with questions.
What Residents Should Know
Residents in and near South Tampa should expect periodic treatments during high-count events and can cut down on bites by removing standing water, using EPA-registered repellents and limiting outdoor activity at dawn and dusk. The county recommends signing up for spray notifications and checking its online treatment map or calling Mosquito Management Services at (813) 635-5400 for details about coverage and timing. If you spot areas of standing water or unusually heavy mosquito activity, report them to the county so inspectors can take a look.
