Jefferson County Mosquito Control
Director: Denise Marcel
Office Hours
8 a.m. until noon. & 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Contact Information
8905 First Street
Beaumont, TX 77705
Phone: 409-719-5940
Fax: 409-727-4176
Request of Services
Current Spray Schedule
8/29/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 26, 27, 29, 30, 31
- South Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
8/28/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 11, 14, 15, 16, 20
- Port Neches and Nederland
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/27/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Groves, Port Acres and Nederland
- **Weather permitting
- Spray Sections: 5, 7, 12,17, 18
- **Completed
8/26/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Port Arthur and Groves
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
8/22/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 28, 32, 33, 37, 43
- West Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/21/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 2, 6, 11, 13, 20
- Port Arthur, Nederland and Groves
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/21/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Port Acres and Port Arthur/Procter
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/20/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 34, 36, 38, 39, 42
- North Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/19/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 26, 27, 29, 30, 31
- South Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/15/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 6, 7, 11, 16, 18
- Groves, Port Acres and Port Neches
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/14/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Port Arthur
- **Weather permitting
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- **Completed
8/13/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Nederland and South Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
- Spray Sections: 14, 20, 26, 31
- **Completed
8/12/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- South and North Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
- Spray Sections: 28, 31, 34, 35
8/8/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- North Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
- Spray Sections: 36, 38, 40, 41
- **Completed
8/7/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 26, 27, 29, 30, 31
- South Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/6/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 32, 33, 35, 43, 44
- West Beaumont
- **Completed
8/6/2024
AM
-
Planes
- LaBelle
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/5/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 6, 7, 13, 20
- Groves and Nederland
-
Planes
- Pleasure Island and Fannett
-
Planes & Trucks
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/3/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Hamshire
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/2/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Green Thumb, Boondock Rd and Sabine Ranch
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/2/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Four Ranches, Sunchase and Sabine
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/1/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Port Arthur
-
Planes
- Moore Rd, North Forest, Old Sour Lake Rd
- Port Acres and North Beaumont
-
Planes & Trucks
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
8/1/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Four Ranches, Sunchase and Port Acres
- Downtown Beaumont and North Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
- **Cancelled
7/31/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
- Nederland and Port Neches
-
Planes
- China and Voth
-
Planes & Trucks
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
7/30/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 32, 33, 35, 37, 43, 44
- West Beaumont
-
Planes
- Pine Island Meeker, Boyt Rd., Brooks Rd., Clubb Rd
-
Planes & Trucks
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
7/30/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Tyrrell Park, Cheek, Amelia and Willow Creek
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
7/29/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 45
- North Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
7/25/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 20, 30, 31, 34, 36, 38
- North Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
7/24/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Port Acres and South Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
- Spray Sections: 17, 18, 26, 27, 29
7/23/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- Port Arthur and Groves
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
7/22/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 11, 12, 13, 15, 16
- Nederland and Port Neches
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
7/21/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Humble Camp
- **Completed
7/18/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- **Weather permitting
- Spray Sections: 14, 28, 32, 43, 44
- West Beaumont
- **Completed
7/17/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 20, 28, 32, 43, 44
- Mid County and West Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
- **RESCHEDULED DUE TO RAIN
- Spray Sections Completed: 12, 13, 17, 18, 20
7/16/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 33, 35, 37, 41, 45
- West Beaumont
-
Planes
- Winshire, Port Neches and North Nederland
-
Planes & Trucks
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
7/15/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 36, 38, 39, 40, 42
- North Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
7/11/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 18
- Port Arthur
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
7/10/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Port Arthur
- **Weather permitting
- **Incomplete Due To Rains
7/9/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 34
- South Beaumont
-
Planes
- Pleasure Island and Procter Ext/Atlantic Marsh
-
Planes & Trucks
- **Weather permitting
- **COMPLETED
7/3/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 15, 17, 18
- Port Acres
- **Weather permitting
- **COMPLETED
7/2/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 12, 13, 14, 20
- Nederland
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
7/1/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Groves, Nederland and Port Neches
- **Weather permitting
- Spray Sections: 5, 6, 7, 11, 16
- **Completed
6/27/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Port Arthur
- **Weather permitting
- **Completed
6/26/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Port Arthur
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4
- **Weather permitting
- **Cancelled due to rains
6/25/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 29 & 34
- North Beaumont
-
Planes
- South Bmt, Cardinal Acres & Plum Nearly Ranch
-
Planes & Trucks
- **COMPLETED
6/24/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 26, 27, 31, 36
- South Beaumont
- **Weather permitting
6/13/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Port Arthur
-
Planes
- Pleasure Island, China and Westbury
-
Planes & Trucks
- **Weather permitting
- **COMPLETED
6/12/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20
- Nederland and Port Acres
-
Planes
- Winshire, Four Ranches, Sunchase, Port Neches
- North Nederland
-
Planes & Trucks
- **Weather permitting
- COMPLETED
6/12/2024
AM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Port Arthur
- **Cancelled Due to Weather
-
Planes
- Hamshire, Boyt Rd, Brooks Rd, Clubb Rd, Groves
- **Schedule rolled over to 6/12/2024 due to weather
- **Completed
-
Planes & Trucks
- **Weather permitting
6/11/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Hamshire and Groves
- **Weather permitting
- Rollover to Tuesday, June 11, 2024 (P.M.)
6/10/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 32, 33, 35, 37, 43
- West Beaumont
-
Planes
- Fannett, Humble Camp, Blue Bonnett Lane, Bayou Din
-
Planes & Trucks
- **Weather permitting
- completed
6/6/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Nederland & Port Acres
- Spray Sections: 12, 14, 17, 18
-
Planes
- Procter Extension,Atlantic Marsh & Pleasure Island
- completed
6/6/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Nome & Pine Island Meeker
- **Weather permitting
- completed
6/5/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Northwest Beaumont
- Spray Sections: 39, 40, 41, 42
- **Weather permitting
6/4/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- **Weather permitting** - Northwest Beaumont
- Sections: 39, 40, 41, 42
- canceled due to winds
- Northwest Beaumont
6/3/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Groves & Port Neches
- Sections: 7, 11, 15, 16
- completed
5/24/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Fannette, Hamshire & Winshire
- canceled due to wind gusts
5/23/2024
AM
-
Planes
- China & Westbury
-
Trucks
- 7, 12, 17, 18
- Groves, Port Acres & Nederland
-
Planes & Trucks
- completed
5/22/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Sabine & Pleasure Island
-
Trucks
- West Beaumont
- Sections: 33, 40, 43, 44, 45
-
Planes & Trucks
- completed
5/21/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Moore Rd., North Forest, Old Sour Lake Rd
- Nome & Old Nome Rd.,
-
Trucks
- North Beaumont
- Sections: 36, 38, 39 ,40 ,41, 42
-
Planes & Trucks
- completed
5/21/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Tyrrell Park, Cheek, Boyt Rd., Brooks Rd.,Clubb Rd
- West Amelia & Amelia Beaumont
5/20/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Humble Camp, Blue bonnett Lane, Bayou Din
- Green Thumb, Boondocks Rd., Sabine Ranch
-
Trucks
- South Beaumont
- Sections: 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 34
5/18/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Weather Permitting
- Nederland
- Completed
5/18/2024
AM
-
Planes
- South Beaumont, Cardinal Acres, Plum Nearly Ranch
- China, Westbury, Nederland, Downtown Beaumont
- Canceled due to fog
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 7,16, 20B, 33, 35
- Completed
-
Planes & Trucks
- Weather Permitting
5/17/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Green Thumb, Boondocks Rd, Sabine Ranch, Nome
- Old Nome Rd, Pear Ridge, Griffin Park
- Weather Permitting
- Canceled due to rain
5/17/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Sabine, Pl Island, NW Beaumont, North Beaumont
-
Trucks
- Port Arthur and West Beaumont
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 28, 44
-
Planes & Trucks
- Weather Permitting
5/16/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Hamshire, Groves, Port Neches and North Nederland
- Humble Camp, Blue Bonnett Lane, Bayou Din
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 4, 5, 6, 12, 15
-
Planes & Trucks
- Weather Permitting
5/15/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Boyt Rd., Brooks Rd., Clubb Rd., Port Arthur
-
Trucks
- West Beaumont, North Beaumont
- Spray Sections: 33, 35, 40, 41, 42
-
Planes & Trucks
- Weather Permitting
5/15/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Port Acres, Mid County, West Beaumont, Amelia BMT
-
Trucks
- North Beaumont
- Spray Sections: 32, 34, 36, 38, 39
-
Planes & Trucks
- Weather Permitting
5/14/2024
PM
-
Planes
- LaBelle and Fannett
-
Planes & Trucks
- Weather Permitting
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 20, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31
- North Nederland and South Beaumont
5/14/2024
AM
-
Trucks
- Nederland, Groves and Port Neches
- Spray Sections: 7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16
-
Planes & Trucks
- Weather Permitting
-
Planes
- Green Thumb, Boondocks Rd., Sabine Ranch, Voth
- Moore Rd., North Forest & Old Sour Lake Road
5/13/2024
PM
-
Planes
- LaBelle and Fannett
- Planes canceled due to rain
-
Trucks
- Port Arthur and Groves
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
-
Planes & Trucks
- Weather Permitting
5/9/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Fannett and Pine Island
-
Trucks
- N. Nederland, Port Acres and South Beaumont
- Spray Sections: 13, 17, 18, 20, 26, 27
-
Planes & Trucks
- Weather permitting
5/9/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Pine Island Meeker, Fannett, NW Beaumont
- N Beaumont
- Weather permitting
- Flight Cancelled Low Visibility
5/8/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Moore Rd, North Forest, Old Sour Lake Rd
- China and Westbury
-
Trucks
- Groves, Nederland and Port Neches
- Spray Sections: 7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16
-
Planes & Trucks
- Weather permitting
5/8/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Pleasure Island, Procter Ext. & Atlantic Marsh
5/7/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Port Arthur
- Spray Sections: 1,2,3,4,5,6
- Weather permitting
5/7/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Procter Ext, Atlantic Marsh & Pleasure Island
- Weather permitting
- Flight canceled due to high winds
5/6/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Port Arthur
- Sections: 1,2,3,4,5,6
- Incomplete due to rains
-
Planes & Trucks
- Weather permitting
5/3/2024
PM
-
Planes & Trucks
- NO SPRAY SCHEDULE DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
5/2/2024
PM
-
Planes & Trucks
- NO SPRAY SCHEDULE DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
5/1/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Sabine and Pl Island
-
Trucks
- North Beaumont
- Spray Sections: 31, 34, 36, 38, 39
5/1/2024
PM
5/1/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Port Neches and North Nederland
4/30/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- South Beaumont
- Spray Sections: 20, 26, 27, 29, 30
4/29/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Nederland and Port Acres
- Spray Sections: 12, 13, 14, 17, 18
4/24/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Groves, Nederland and Port Neches
- Spray Sections: 6, 7, 11, 15, 16
4/23/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Port Arthur
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
4/22/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- North Beaumont
- Spray Sections: 31, 34, 36, 38, 39
4/18/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- South Beaumont
- Spray Sections: 26, 27, 29, 30, 31
4/17/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Nederland
- Spray Sections: 12, 13, 14, 15, 20
-
Planes
- Green Thumb, Boondocks Rd, Sabine Ranch
- Pine Island Meeker & NW Beaumont
4/17/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Voth, Hamshire, Groves, Pt. Neches & N. Nederland
4/13/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Tyrrell Park, Cheek, Fannett & NW Beaumont
4/12/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Proctor Ext, Atlantic Marsh, LaBelle & N Beaumont
4/12/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Moore Rd, North Forest, Old Sour Lake Rd, China
- Westbury, Port Acres, Beaumont Marsh
- Port Neches, North Nederland and Groves
4/11/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Nederland and Port Neches
- Spray Sections: 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 20
-
Planes
- Sabine, Pleasure Island and Port Arthur/Proctor
4/10/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 7
- Port Arthur and Groves
- Canceled due to high winds
4/6/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Pt. Acres
4/5/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Sabine, Pleasure Island, Port Arthur/Proctor
4/5/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Voth, Sabine, Pl Island, Port Neches, N Nederland
- Moore Rd and North Forest
4/4/2024
PM
-
Planes
- S Beaumont, Green Thumb & Nederland
-
Trucks
- Groves and Nederland
- Spray Sections: 6, 7, 11, 12
4/4/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Proctor Ext/Atl Marsh, Tyrell Park, Cheek & N Bmt
4/3/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Fannett, Winshire, Pear Ridge and Griffin Park
-
Trucks
- Port Arthur
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
4/2/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Port Arthur
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
-
Planes
- Port Neches, Sabine and Pl Island
3/29/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Groves, North Nederland & Port Neches
3/28/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Sabine, Pleasure Island & Port Arthur Procter
3/27/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Proctor Ext, Atlantic Marsh and Pt. Acres
3/7/2024
AM
-
Planes
- Proctor Ext, Atlantic Marsh, Sabine & NW Beaumont
3/6/2024
PM
-
Planes
- LaBelle, Fannett and Groves
3/5/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Pleasure Island, Port Neches and N. Nederland
3/1/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Pleasure Island, Port Arthur/Proctor
2/22/2024
AM
-
Planes
- PL Island and North Beaumont
2/14/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Proctor Ext/Atlantic Marsh and Pleasure Island
2/13/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Port Acres and Port Arthur/Proctor Ext.
2/7/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Green Thumb, Boondocks Rd, Sabine Ranch
- Downtown Beaumont
1/5/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Midcounty, Pt. Acres and Nederland
1/4/2024
PM
-
Trucks
- Spray Sections: 1, 2, and 3
- Port Arthur
-
Planes
- Midcounty, Pt. Acres and Nederland
1/3/2024
PM
-
Planes
- Labelle, Humblecamp, Blue Bonnett Lane, Bayou Din
- Groves
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide the citizens of Jefferson County safe, effective and cost efficient control of mosquitoes while adhering to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism
All spray schedules are dependent on weather conditions or other unknown circumstances. The spray schedules are for general areas and may not include your specific neighborhood or weekend sprays.
The schedules we submit are for P.M. of the day submitted and A.M. for the following day. The schedules will be for aerial sections and separately for ground sections.
Mosquito Information
![](/JCMD/Img/ricefield.jpg)
Rice Field Mosquitoes
These are a large black mosquito with white or yellow bands on their legs. They are a flood water variety, with an average flight range of 20 to 40 miles. They are very aggressive biters, both day and night. The eggs are deposited in rice fields, fallow fields, & pastures in any depression that will hold water, including hoof prints. These mosquitoes are attracted to Beaumont and other areas in the western half of the county by the glow of lights at night, which are easily seen from as far away as Fannett or China. We try to intercept these mosquitoes on the edge of town as they migrate in. Residents can do nothing to help us control this species.
![](/JCMD/Img/aedes_sollicitans-f.gif)
Salt Marsh Mosquitoes
These are medium sized brown mosquito with white bands on their legs. Also a flood water variety, they are very aggressive biters with a flight range of 100+ miles. This species is most common in the eastern and southern areas of the county, and is attracted to town by city and industrial lights. Again, we try to intercept them on the edge of town as they move in. The public, again, can do nothing to help.
![](/JCMD/Img/asiantiger.jpg)
Asian Tiger Mosquitoes
Although first discovered in this country in 1985 in Houston, Texas, this species has become the #1 urban mosquito in the south. This is a small black mosquito with silver or white bands on the legs and one white stripe down the back between the wings. It lays eggs only in containers, not in puddles on the ground. Breeding sites for this species were originally in tree rot holes and stumps, but it now takes extensive advantage of the artificial containers that we so thoughtfully provide (cans, buckets, tires, bird baths, clogged rain gutters, pet water dishes, anything that will hold water for 5 to 7 days). Eggs are laid just above the water line in the container. Rain fall or movement of the container submerges the eggs, which hatch in minutes. Peak activity period for this mosquito is rather unusual, being during middle of the day instead of at night. The flight range for this mosquito only 1 to 2 miles, so if you breed them, you will feed them. They are hesitant but persistent in biting behavior. This species receives only minimal exposure to our sprays due to the unusual daytime activity period. The only effective control for this mosquito is removal of the breeding sites by property owner. The public must help with this one.
![](/JCMD/Img/culex.gif)
Culex Species
These are small, nondescript brown mosquitoes, most of which are active only at night. They breed in standing water high in organic matter, and are common in underground storm sewers and in water standing under houses built on piers. They have only a 1 to 5 mile flight range. One species can transmit St Louis Encephalitis if it bites an infected bird and then bites a human. Residents can help by eliminating water standing around the home.
Other Information
FAQ
How do I contact the Mosquito Control Department?
The Jefferson County Mosquito Control District offices are located at 8905 First Street, Beaumont, Texas, 77705. We can be reached during normal business hours from 8 AM to noon and 1 PM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, at 409-719-5940. When the mosquitoes are bad, you may have to call several times in order to get through. Please be nice to our secretary when you call - remember, it's not her fault!
If you are calling to request spraying for a public gathering or special event, please give us at least a week of advance notice. This enables us to perform surveillance, see what mosquito species is present and schedule control activities if required. Please don't call us the day before or the day of an event and expect us to be able to get there immediately.
Why does it take so long to spray?
Jefferson County has approximately 945 square miles of territory. Our recent rural and suburban population growth has dramatically increased the acreage in the aerial spray sections. The result is that with perfect weather conditions, it takes us about 7 days using 3 aircraft to cover all of the spray sections one time. Under heavy mosquito situations, we just can't keep up with the re-infestation rate. Even so, we use an average of 20,000 gallons of spray each year and cover over 1,250,000 acres each year with the aircraft alone.
We can only spray for about 2 ½ hours after dawn and for 1 hour before dusk because of thermal updrafts. These air currents are caused by the solar heating of the ground, which causes the warm air to rise upward. Spraying during these updrafts is a waste of time, money and chemical, as the spray droplets are caught in the rising column of air and never come down in Jefferson County.
What can I do to have less mosquitoes at my house?
The first line of defense is to make sure that you are not breeding mosquitoes on your own property. Walk your yard and check for anything that is holding water. Anything that can hold water for 5 days or more is a potential mosquito breeding site. Even bottle caps are capable of producing mosquitoes.
If you can, remove the container or store it where it will not fill with water. This is the best way to handle the problem. If the container is a bird bath, pet water dish, or some other container that you can not remove, then be sure to rinse it out completely every 3 days. Do NOT simply add water to the container - you must flush the mosquito larvae out onto the ground to kill them. If you collect rain water for your plants, simply place a piece of screen over the container so that the mosquitoes can't get in to lay eggs.
Remember to clean your rain gutters! Blockages can cause water to stand in them long enough to produce mosquitoes. Fill in low areas in your yard or under your house if possible. Repair all water leaks as soon as possible. Even plastic sheeting can hold water in the folds and produce large numbers of mosquitoes. Remember, if you breed mosquitoes, you will feed mosquitoes.
When mosquitoes are flying in from miles away, there is little the home owner can do. Most importantly, you do not want to attract mosquitoes to your house. Either turn off security lights or replace them with motion detector lights that come on only when needed. If you must have a security light on at all times, change the bulb from a mercury vapor to a sodium vapor bulb. The yellowish sodium vapor light is less attractive to insects than the blue-white mercury vapor light. Turn off your bug zapper - less than 2% of the bugs that you see killed are actually mosquitoes, but the light does attract them into the area.
Mosquito Trivia
- The Jefferson County Mosquito Control District was organized in 1950 after the death of several children due to mosquito transmitted encephalitis. Dr. Paul Meyer of Port Arthur was instrumental in the formation of the District.
- Mosquitoes can not transmit AIDS.
- Bug zappers are best placed in your neighbor's yard so that the mosquitoes will go next door! Turn them off if the mosquitoes are heavy. If you do have one, don't hang it right over the patio table - move it back from where you will be located.
- Purple martins and bats may eat a few mosquitoes, in fact, we count on their help, but they will not cause a noticeable drop in your mosquito population.
- Only female mosquitoes bite. Blood supplies proteins to build eggs with, rather than being a food source. Mosquitoes live on carbohydrate sources like nectar and plant sap. They have even been known to sneak a little sugar water of hummingbird feeders.
- The annual cost per Jefferson County resident for mosquito control (which also includes county roadside weed control) is $5.52 per person.
Do you still have questions?
If you need additional information or answers to any questions that are not covered here, then call the Mosquito Control office and ask for the Director, Denise Marcel. If she doesn't know the answer, she probably knows who to ask to find out.