With recent heavy downpours in Central Florida, the "battle of the bug" is getting intense, and mosquito control is working to take some of the bite out of the bugs' plans to possibly bite you.

Nola Harris, who lives in a low-lying area of West Cocoa, said she knows when the steady rains come, her yard and the gutters in front of her home will fill quickly with water.

"A whole lot of rain here, and when it rains, it backs up," Harris said. "I was just wondering when they were going to come in and spray."

A closer look in Harris' yard showed mosquito larvae swimming in the standing water.

Brevard County Mosquito Control spent Monday surveying areas known to be breeding grounds for the bugs. After two weekends of heavy rain, workers said they expect an increase in both adult mosquitoes and larvae, including the Lake Drive area near Harris' home.

"All of our ground staff are out treating those, 18 workers in all," said Chris Richmond, with Brevard Mosquito Control.

Workers were not just looking at residential areas; they were also surveying tens of thousands of acres of marsh and wetlands.

Mosquito Control helicopters are hovering over areas like the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, sampling the water for the baby bugs. The goal: To pinpoint where spraying will be most effective.

"They are finding a lot right now," said Richmond.

Harris said she was glad the spraying is about to happen, especially with so many unwelcome visitors in her front yard.

You'll see sprayers out on the streets of Brevard County nightly this week.

Mosquito control tips for your home

Source: Brevard County Mosquito Control

Personal protection

During peak biting times (dawn, dusk, and early evening)

  • Try to stay inside.
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when you go out.
  • Loose clothing.
  • Light colored clothing.
  • Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin. An effective repellent will contain 35% DEET.
  • DEET in high concentrations (greater than 35%) provides no additional protection. Repellents may irritate the eyes and mouth, so avoid applying repellent to the hands of children.
  • When using repellents always read and follow directions for use as printed on the product.

What you can do to help

  • Throw out old tires (you can put out at least 2 per week with the trash).
  • Throw out tin cans, buckets, drums, bottles, or any water holding containers.
  • Fill in or drain any low places (puddles, ruts) in yard.
  • Keep drains, ditches, and culverts clean of weeds and trash, so water will drain properly.
  • Cover trash containers to keep out rainwater, and drill holes in bottom of trash containers so any water can drain out.
  • Repair leaky pipes and outdoor faucets.
  • Empty plastic wading pools at least once a week or store in a position that water will drain.
  • Make sure your backyard pool is maintained properly.
  • Fill in tree rot holes and hollow stumps that hold water with sand or concrete.
  • Change water in bird baths and plant pots or drip trays at least once a week.
  • Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well-trimmed around the house, so adult mosquitoes will not hide there.
  • Keep gutters clean and free of debris and leaves.