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Agency official urges St. Johns County residents to 'tip and toss' to reduce mosquitoes
Summary
An agency official in St. Johns County said the county's mosquito-control work centers on protecting public health, citing about 55 species locally, and urged residents to remove standing water, use repellent with DEET or picaridin, and visit the local disease vector education center for resources.
An agency official said on 2026-07-02 that St. Johns County's mosquito-control program prioritizes protecting public health and urged residents to remove standing water and use effective repellents.
"We're here to promote and protect public health, ensuring that you are mosquito free of disease and free of biting," the agency official said, describing the program's focus on ditches, storm drains and rights-of-way rather than attempting to eliminate every mosquito.
The official noted "about 55 different species reside in St. Johns County," and said the county does not target species that primarily feed on reptiles or birds. "We practice science driven applications," the official said, explaining that staff monitor mosquito populations and only apply treatments when surveillance data indicate mosquitoes are present.
Residents were urged to remove small sources of standing water around their homes. "Anything that's holding water, tip and toss those containers," the official said, listing examples such as dog bowls, children's playsets and even bottle lids, and warning that very small amounts of water can become breeding habitat.
For personal protection, the official advised using repellent and timing outdoor activity to avoid peak mosquito activity. "If you're outside and active during peak mosquito activity time, which is early morning and late evening, so right at dusk and dawn, you wanna make sure you're wearing repellent," the official said, recommending products that contain DEET or picaridin for the longest protection time.
The presentation closed with an outreach reminder: residents can contact the program, submit an online service request, or visit the disease vector education center for information on mosquito control, pollinators and other insects of medical importance. The official said staff routinely monitor mosquito populations to guide control decisions.
No formal actions, votes or new regulations were announced during the briefing; the presentation focused on public-health guidance and program practices.
