Mosquito Control Efforts to Commence in Beaufort County

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. – In response to the influx of mosquitoes resulting from water residue left by Tropical Storm Debby, county officials have announced an extensive mosquito control operation.

Helicopter Measures to Be Implemented

The mosquito control initiative will utilize a helicopter to manage mosquito populations across the county. While this move may lead to a notable decrease in the number of mosquitoes, residents still concerned about the issue can submit a service request or contact the office via Beaufort Connect or voicemail.

Threshold for Spraying

The county’s service request portal includes an advisory note which states: “Please note that all areas require a mosquito threshold to be met before a spray. Dozens of traps are set throughout the county to monitor this. If your home is not near one of our current traps, we may need to place a trap at your home to determine if the threshold has been met before spraying can be done.”

Life Cycle of Mosquitoes

According to Mosquito Joe owner Gregory Brian Polster, mosquitoes start their life cycle in standing water, taking from five to seven days to mature into adult mosquitoes capable of biting. The recent deluge of rain in the area, contributed to by Tropical Storm Debby, has resulted in ample standing water, leading to a surge in mosquito populations.