Levy County Mosquito Control
Independent Vector Information & Public Health Network
Source Reduction: The “Tip & Toss” Campaign
The most effective, environmentally responsible method to control the aggressive Aedes aegypti (Zika and Dengue vector) mosquito is Source Reduction. Because these mosquitoes breed exclusively in small, artificial containers near human dwellings, municipal truck spraying cannot reach their larvae. The LCMN relies on Levy County residents to act as the first line of defense through the weekly “Tip and Toss” protocol.
1. Inspect
Walk your property immediately following a summer thunderstorm. Identify any object, natural or artificial, that is holding standing water. Mosquitoes only need a bottle cap of water to lay up to 200 eggs.
2. Tip & Scrub
Empty the water from birdbaths, dog bowls, and planters at least once a week. Crucial step: Scrub the inside of the container with a brush. Aedes mosquitoes glue their eggs to the walls, and they can survive dry conditions for months until flooded again.
3. Toss or Cover
Dispose of unneeded clutter (old tires, broken toys, empty pots) that serves as hidden breeding grounds. For items that must stay outdoors (like boats or firewood), cover them with tight-fitting tarps that do not sag and pool water.
Common Gulf Coast Breeding Hazards
-
Corrugated Downspout Extensions The ribbed design of plastic gutter extensions retains small pockets of water long after the rain stops. Switch to smooth PVC piping or ensure a steep downward grade.
-
Bromeliads & Tropical Plants Many native Florida plants hold water tightly in their central cups. You must aggressively flush these out with a garden hose weekly to wash out mosquito larvae.
-
Abandoned Tires Tires are the ultimate mosquito incubator. They provide dark, insulated, humid environments. A single tire can breed tens of thousands of mosquitoes in one season. View the county tire amnesty schedule.
When You Can’t Tip: Biological Larvicides (Bti)
Some sources of standing water—like rain barrels, ornamental koi ponds, and abandoned swimming pools—cannot be easily tipped. In these cases, the LCMN mandates the use of Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (Bti).
Available at hardware stores as “Mosquito Dunks” or “Bits,” Bti is a naturally occurring soil bacterium. When mosquito larvae eat it, it destroys their gut lining. It is highly specific and is completely harmless to humans, pets, birds, fish, and bees.
By utilizing Bti in standing water, homeowners achieve permanent source reduction without the severe ecological collateral damage caused by automated residential misting systems.
Notice an illegal tire dump or an unmaintained “green” pool in your neighborhood?
File a Public Health Hazard ReportLevy County Mosquito Control Information Network
Dedicated to Public Health & Environmental Stewardship in the Gulf Coast Region.