County departments

mosquito control

Mosquito suppression is far more than a convenience; it is a vital health and safety service the Board of Supervisors provides throughout the entire county and all four cities.  The Board contracts out this important work to Mississippi Mosquito Control Incorporated (MMCI).

Centrally located in Gautier, MMCI serves the entire county running more than 40 spraying routes each week using a combination of spray trucks (fogger) and aerial spraying.  A vast majority of these routes are run late in the afternoon and early evening. The frequency of these routes is determined by results from mosquito traps and residential phone calls. Calls from residents are usually responded to within three days.

As the weather gets warmer and mosquito populations blossom, MMCI increases its spraying to six days a week (early spring until late fall.) Their staff also increases the number of mosquito traps and inspections of breeding grounds (ditches, standing water). The MMCI staff collects mosquitos (as well as dead birds) for testing of “mosquito-borne” illnesses (West Nile Virus, Encephalitis, etc.).  If the results from the State's initial testing come back positive MMCI does further testing and report those results directly to the MS Dept. of Health and the County.

If a test returns as positive, MMCI dramatically increases spraying in the affected area. The County and the Health Dept. immediately team together and begin educational campaigns to lower the risk for residents. The materials below on this webpage show ways to make property more comfortable and protected against mosquitoes. 

West Nile Prevention

Do you have mosquitoes in your house and yard? You may be growing your own problem. Your yard may be breeding:

• St. Louis encephalitis mosquitoes
• Southern house mosquitoes
• Asian tiger mosquitoes
• Yellow fever mosquitoes
• Tree hole mosquitoes
• Malaria mosquitoes
• Bromeliad mosquitoes

The solution is simple, cheap and pesticide-free. Check your yard for breeding in all locations possible problem areas and follow the directions given. Don't overlook a single small pool of water, even if there are no mosquito larvae present--they will be back. A half-cup of water can produce enough mosquitoes to cause a problem.

Mosquito larvae and pupae will wiggle to the bottom of the container if disturbed.  They are 1/8 to 1/2" long and look like this at the water's surface. 

Possible Problem Areas that breed mosquitoes

1. Potted plants with pans underneath that hold water are good breeding sites. Don’t over water plants; dump any unnecessary water from pans.
2. Drainage ditches with emergent vegetation are big producers. Remove the vegetation and any obstructions to water flow, or call your highway department.
3. Standing water in low grassy areas, tire tracks and swales can breed mosquitoes. Fill and regrade if possible and keep grass mowed. Check under faucets.
4. Roof gutters plugged with leaves hold water and mosquito larvae. This source is often missed. You will need a ladder.
5. Replace the water in pet dishes every couple of days. Your pets will appreciate it, but the mosquitoes will not.
6. Trash or “spare parts” and the like have lots of breeding places. Remove items or cover what cannot be thrown away.
7. Check large animal water troughs weekly and flush to remove mosquito larvae. Minnows may help in shading troughs.
8. Old tires are a favorite of the yellow fever and tiger mosquitoes. Discard tires or put in a building. If not possible, stack tires flat and cover the top of each stack.
9. Fresh rain water is great to drink and to water house plants. Mosquitoes like it, too. Cover rain barrels with house screening to prevent them from laying eggs.
10. Unused or poorly maintained pools, particularly kiddy wading pools, will breed mosquitoes. Empty pools or flush weekly, or add chlorine as required.
11. Horticultural buffs who like bromeliads and other plants that hold water to remove larvae that are sometimes difficult to see among the debris in the leaf axils.
12. Water-filled tree holes are favorite breeding sites. Check branches as well as the trunk of holes. Fill with sand or cement.
13. Flat roofs that get lots of leaf litter can harbor mosquitoes. Removing the debris should solve the problem.
14. Mosquitoes in natural or manmade ponds can be prevented by removing any vegetation or stocking with minnows.
15. Boats on trailers, dry dock or unused will collect water and breed mosquitoes if not cover or turned upside down. Go fishing occasionally and bail out any water in your boat.
16. Bird baths, barbecue grills, ash trays and other small containers that hold water can produce. Cover grills, overturn or remove container of flush with water at least once a week.

West Nile Virus Resources