SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. — The South Walton Mosquito District will begin distributing free Yellow Fly Kits to South Walton residents starting April 1 to help reduce yellow fly activity during the spring season.
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According to the South Walton Mosquito District, yellow flies typically appear in early spring and are known for their painful daytime bites. The insects are commonly found near shaded tree lines, wooded areas, and wetlands throughout the Florida Panhandle.
Unlike mosquitoes, female yellow flies cut the skin with specialized mouthparts to obtain a blood meal needed for egg production, which can leave a painful bite and noticeable welt, the district said. Male yellow flies do not bite and instead feed on nectar and pollen.
The South Walton Mosquito District said yellow fly larvae develop in natural wetlands and forested areas, and there are currently no effective methods to control them at the larval stage. Spraying is also not effective against adult yellow flies, and daytime spraying could harm pollinators.
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To help residents manage nuisance yellow fly activity around their homes, the district offers Yellow Fly Kits that attract female flies, which become stuck when they land. While the traps will not eliminate yellow flies entirely, they can help reduce activity in smaller areas, according to the district.
Yellow Fly Kits will be available from April 1 through June 30, Monday through Thursday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents must provide proof of South Walton County residency, and the district said the limit is one kit per primary residence.
For more information about Yellow Fly Kits or other services, residents may call the South Walton Mosquito District at (850) 267-2112 or visit the district’s website.
The South Walton Mosquito District was established in 1964 and works to control disease-carrying mosquitoes and nuisance insects through surveillance, larviciding, truck and aerial treatments, drone technology, source reduction, and public education programs.
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