The Collier Mosquito Control District is providing free mosquito fish to all County residents to help fight the bite as rain and warmer weather continue.
The fish can each eat up to about 100 mosquito larvae every day, according to the District.
“Since 2018 we’ve given away more than 23,000 fish and served over 500 residents in Collier," said Rachel Bales, a biologist with the District.
Mosquito fish can be placed in any area with standing water, including flooded areas, ditches, swales, and ponds.
“A great use out in Golden Gate Estates is animal troughs and livestock troughs because that’s water that needs to stay there for the animals but a few mosquito fish few really help," added Bales.
The mosquito fish are free via appointment on Thursdays at the district's headquarters near the Naples Airport.
“Without mosquito control, especially since they don’t fly right after a hurricane, they swarm. They get in your teeth. After Irma the mosquitos came and just swarmed - it was awful. During Ian, I had the mosquito fish and when we flooded, I scooped them up and put them in the water every couple days. It really decreased the swarms," said Marth Durham, who uses the fish regularly.
You can also pick up the sea creatures at the Collier Mosquito Control District's new mobile unit, which will roll out for the first time on Saturday at North Collier Regional Park from 10 am-12 pm.