Mosquito Control Priorities in Florida—Survey Results from Florida Mosquito Control Districts

Abstract

Florida lies within a subtropical region where the climate allows diverse mosquito species including invasive species to thrive year-round. As of 2021, there are currently 66 state-approved Florida Mosquito Control Districts, which are major stakeholders for Florida public universities engaged in mosquito research. Florida is one of the few states with extensive organized mosquito control programs. The Florida State Government and Florida Mosquito Control Districts have long histories of collaboration with research institutions. During fall 2020, we carried out a survey to collect baseline data on the current control priorities from Florida Mosquito Control Districts relating to (1) priority control species, (2) common adult and larval control methods, and (3) major research questions to address that will improve their control and surveillance programs. The survey data showed that a total of 17 distinct mosquito species were considered to be priority control targets, with many of these species being understudied. The most common control approaches included truck-mounted ultra-low-volume adulticiding and biopesticide-based larviciding. The districts held interest in diverse research questions, with many prioritizing studies on basic science questions to help develop evidence-based control strategies. Our data highlight the fact that mosquito control approaches and priorities differ greatly between districts and provide an important point of comparison for other regions investing in mosquito control, particularly those with similar ecological settings, and great diversity of potential mosquito vectors, such as in Florida. Our findings highlight a need for greater alignment of research priorities between mosquito control and mosquito research. In particular, we note a need to prioritize filling knowledge gaps relating to understudied mosquito species that have been implicated in arbovirus transmission.

Mosquito Communities Vary across Landscape and Vertical Strata in Indian River County, Florida

“…Our results indicate that height is an important driver of trapping success for several vector and nuisance species in Florida including A. taeniorhynchus, A. crucians, A. quadrimaculatus, and C. coronator. Aedes taeniorhynchus is an aggressive salt marsh mosquito and major pest in Florida [26]. Seventeen A. taeniorhynchus pools have tested positive for the presence of WNV RNA in Florida [27]; however, this species is not considered to be an important vector.…”

A Qualitative Analysis of the Perceptions of Stakeholders Involved in Vector Control and Vector-Borne Disease Research and Surveillance in Orinoquia, Colombia

“…The convergence of our findings with those of other studies likely relate to similar resource limitations in each country and the seemingly continuous threat of VBDs. By contrast, mosquito control districts in Florida report fruitful collaborations with research facilities, rapid interruption of Zika virus transmission in 2016, and a significant capability to handle potential mosquito-borne disease threats [ 60 , 61 , 62 ]. However, even Florida, one of the few states with extensive organized mosquito control programmes, experiences a perception of understaffing: slightly more than half of respondents in Florida mosquito control districts felt they were understaffed, which may compromise mosquito surveillance and control efforts in some districts [ 63 ].…”