Broward County in Florida now uses a drone to spray for mosquitoes in challenging areas like parks and wetlands, revolutionizing pest control efforts.
The drone targets breeding grounds of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, known vectors of diseases like yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses.
TOPSHOT - An Aedes Aegypti mosquito is photographed on human skin in a lab of the International Training and Medical Research Training Center (CIDEIM) on January 25, 2016, in Cali, Colombia. CIDEIM scientists are studying the genetics and biology of Aedes Aegypti mosquito which transmits the Zika, Chikungunya, Dengue and Yellow Fever viruses, to control their reproduction and resistance to insecticides. The Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease suspected of causing serious birth defects, is expected to spread to all countries in the Americas except Canada and Chile, the World Health Organization said. AFP PHOTO/LUIS ROBAYO (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP) (Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo : LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images)
Drone as New Method for Mosquito Control in South Florida
Broward County has introduced this new method for mosquito control: using a drone to spray in difficult-to-access areas like parks and wetlands. Herald Courier reported that this innovative approach involves a drone equipped with 15-pound spray payloads, which can cover up to three acres in one flight.
Cody Cash from Leading Edge Aerial Technologies, the company leasing the drone to Broward, highlighted the significant efficiency gain compared to traditional methods that involved labor-intensive efforts over several days.
Anh Ton, director of Broward's Highway & Bridge Maintenance Division, which oversees mosquito control, expressed relief for workers who previously faced challenging terrains armed with machetes. The drones now target areas where Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, known transmitters of yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses, lay their eggs.
According to Ton, over two years ago, Broward County initially deployed drones for surveillance purposes to identify areas requiring mosquito spraying. Engineers tested mosquito traps and targeted vacant parkland, utilizing aerial spray applications.
Ton noted that they had been contemplating this for quite some time. The initial trial showed a significant reduction following the drone operations.
By 2023, the county expanded drone usage from surveillance to include spraying activities. Broward County leases the spraying-capable drone at approximately $3,000 per month.
Drones are feasible between ground crews and the invasive use of helicopters and planes, especially in residential neighborhoods. This initiative marks a pivotal shift in mosquito management, enhancing precision and effectiveness in combating disease-carrying mosquitoes across South Florida.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dubbed mosquitoes the "world's deadliest animal" due to the diseases they spread, causing over 700,000 deaths globally each year.
As of the latest weekly report by the Florida Department of Health in 2024, seven cases of locally acquired dengue fever have occurred. One case was reported in Pasco County, while the remaining six were in Miami-Dade.
Ton's company has over 15 clients across Florida and California and also caters to numerous others with small-scale herbicide services. Recently, he assisted in a mission covering a section of Tree Tops Park in Davie.
Using drones, they could treat approximately 100 acres in just four hours, whereas a single person would typically spend two to four days, depending on the wetness level, to accomplish the same task.
