Following large amounts of rain and storm surge in coastal areas from Hurricane Helene, experts warn our community may now see a spike in the mosquito population.
"So there are people that I've had talking to me already about mosquitoes, that they've noticed some places where they normally don't see them. We will start seeing more of them now and then it may ramp up over the next couple of weeks as more and more species are able to lay their eggs and hatch," said Dr. Joyce Fassbender, an entomologist and professor at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU).
Mosquitoes breed in standing water, and certain species can lay thousands of eggs that hatch within a few days in small areas, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC).
In order to limit the localized population, it is recommended to remove all standing water from your property, draining all items that hold any liquid.
"There are some things that you may not think of that can totally hold enough water to raise mosquitoes. For example, the little wading pools that we have for our kids. Even if you turn those over, they have that little lip on the side that has just enough water around the edges that it can cause mosquitoes," said Dr. Fassbender.
For larger areas like ponds or small pools, free Mosquito Fish are available for pickup by appointment at the Collier Mosquito Control District near the Naples Airport.
The District tells NBC2 that treatments will begin once again as soon as weather permits.