Hillsborough Schedules Overnight Aerial Mosquito Treatment Across Tampa

Hillsborough County announced an overnight aerial mosquito-control operation covering a large treatment zone in Tampa from 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 29, through 6 a.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The County says a helicopter will fly the mission at an altitude of 150 feet and apply Dibrom insecticide at a rate of 0.66 ounces per acre to control adult mosquitoes. The northern boundary is Busch Boulevard, and the southern boundary is State Road 60. The western edge follows the Veterans Expressway, while excluding Tampa International Airport. The eastern boundary changes by section, following the Hillsborough River north of Sligh Avenue, Interstate 275 from Sligh Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, North 21st Street from MLK Boulevard to Interstate 4, and the Tampa Bypass Canal from the I-4 and Broadway Avenue area to Adamo Drive. The County listed September 30 as the first alternate spray date and October 1 as the second alternate date if the scheduled operation cannot proceed. Because the route covers neighborhoods from Old Carrollwood through South Tampa and toward Orient Park, residents and outdoor crews may notice the low-flying helicopter and should use the County's official treatment map and alert system for location-specific information.

The treatment is part of Hillsborough County's response to dengue fever virus activity detected in mosquito traps in multiple neighborhoods. Mosquito Management Services says it is increasing treatments by air and ground while coordinating surveillance, education, and treatment with the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County. The County is also asking residents to follow the three Ds: dress in light-colored, long-sleeved clothing with closed-toed shoes, defend with a repellent containing a CDC-recommended ingredient, and dump or cover standing water. For homeowners and landscape professionals, the standing-water guidance is especially relevant around flowerpot saucers, buckets, equipment, drainage areas, irrigation-related containers, and other objects that can hold rain or irrigation water. The notice does not say every property in the broad boundary will receive identical treatment at the same moment, so localized alerts remain the best way to confirm activity near a particular address. Residents can sign up for treatment notifications and review the County's online mosquito-operations resource. Questions can also be directed to Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services at 813-635-5400. The September 29 announcement gives Tampa property owners exact operating hours, boundaries, flight altitude, application rate, and alternate dates without changing the County's separate advice for personal protection and removal of standing water.