History

The district was created by the Flagler County Board of Commissioners in July 1952, following a special election in which 128 voters cast ballots in favor of creation and 11 were opposed. The 1952 budget was $2,350.00.

To accomplish the suppression of mosquito species that may cause illness or significant discomfort, we identify important species and link their numbers to an abundance threshold. Nuisance populations below the threshold are tolerated. These thresholds may not apply when mosquito-linked illnesses are circulating and the vector of that illness is present.

The district's initial control efforts were insecticide “fogs” consisting of a mixture of an insecticide and fuel oil. Fogs provided temporary relief from the overwhelming salt marsh mosquito populations that plagued coastal residents. As the district grew, emphasis turned to the salt marsh breeding sites. A dragline was purchased, and drainage efforts were directed at breaking the salt marsh mosquitoes' life cycle by draining its nursery areas. Hundreds of acres were drained through the early sixties, when widespread acceptance of the wetlands as a valued resource resulted in environmental regulations restricting ditching activities.

Today, the district has grown to service more than 85,000 residents. It's annual budget is approximately 1.7 million dollars, and its control methods, the same methods as used in the fifties, have been refined. Specific mosquito species are now targeted rather than mosquitoes in general. Wetland mosquito projects are more sophisticated, more specific, and receive significant review from regulatory agencies. Control products are short lived, easily degraded; a few are mosquito specific. Only occasionally, now, do nuisance mosquitoes cause discomfort to the point that outdoor activities are curtailed.

Control Activities

Surveillance Mosquito control begins with daily population tracking. Trapping, biting counts and client service requests all provide information upon which control decisions are based. Surveillance tells us about species composition, abundance, gauges control efforts, and provides a historical perspective. Surveillance initiates the control decision, but considerations such as weather, public exposure, environmental sensitivity and timing determine whether or not controls are applied.

Controlling immature mosquitoes (Larviciding) Here we target immature mosquitoes developing in their aquatic nursery. The advantage being the elimination of entire “broods”. Adults never emerge. Control products include a bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis, (Bti) and growth regulators that arrest normal mosquito development. As a group, the larvicides tend to be more mosquito specific.

Mosquito related illnesses The district monitors the circulation of mosquito related illnesses within the district using sentinel birds. Of concern are Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) and West Nile Virus (WNV).