PCMCD employs four medical entomologists. PCMCD works with state universities, private industry, and government agencies to research cutting edge mosquito control technologies. Organizations that have worked with PCMCD include but are not limited to: The University of Florida, Florida A&M University, The University of South Florida, United States Department of Agriculture, Navy Entomology Center of Excellence, and the World Health Organization.

District research and development programs are designed to evaluate the efficacy of new commercial products, evaluate the efficacy of application techniques and equipment, and develop novel insecticide and herbicide delivery systems. A number of insecticides, application equipment and techniques now in world-wide use were originally tested or developed in Pasco County by District personnel. Additionally, we’ve assisted several pesticide manufacturers in evaluating products in the field to gather the data necessary for bringing their products to market.

PCMCD entomologists also conduct proper trapping or surveillance for many mosquito species which are essential for determining mosquito presence and behavior. Mosquitoes caught in various traps from the prior evening are transported to the laboratory each morning where they are identified to species.

To assure that the materials used by PCMCD remain effective and work to their best advantage, it is important to monitor the mosquitoes for resistance to these products using bioassays. To do this, mosquito eggs and larvae are collected from the wild, reared to the larval or adult stage and then treated with known concentrations of insecticides. These bioassays determine and monitor the susceptibility of Pasco County mosquitoes to each insecticide used by the District. In this way, the minimum dosage necessary for adequate control is determined and also reveals when resistance to a particular insecticide is developing.