How Can Fish Combat Mosquitoes In Tampa Bay?

If you're looking to combat mosquitoes, fish may help. How can this be?

Well, there's a particular kind of freshwater fish, the mosquitofish, that eats mosquito larvae. And over the summer, Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services is holding events where people can purchase these specific fish.

If you'd like to pick up some mosquitofish at these events, you just need to have your photo ID so that you can prove that you live in Hillsborough County.

The summertime mosquitofish giveaway locations are on specific Saturdays as follows:

July 8 at Gadsden Park, which is located at 6901 S. MacDill Ave. in Tampa from 8 A.M. to noon.
July 22 at Fishhawk Sports Complex, which is located at 16000 Fishhawk Blvd. in Lithia from 8 A.M. to noon.
August 5 at Oscar Cooler Sports, which is located at 766 W. Lutz Lake Fern Rd. in Lutz from 8 A.M. to noon.
August 19 at Keystone Rec Center, which is located at 17928 Gunn Hwy. in Odessa from 8 A.M. to noon.
September 9 at Southshore Library, which is located at 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin from 8 A.M. to noon.
September 23 at Providence Skate Park, which is located at 5720 Providence Rd. in Riverview from 8 A.M. to noon.

Last year, the county gave out approximately 17,000 fish so that homeowners could use the fish to combat mosquitoes.

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Do you need tips to help you or your children avoid pesky mosquito bites in Florida?

In the rainier seasons in Tampa Bay, mosquitoes thrive. My first piece of advice is "don't be an adult," because mosquitos love larger people. That's why they prefer adults to children. (But tell that to my poor six-year-old who seems to get attacked by them when we're outside at dusk for even two minutes.)

For some people, mosquitoes are just annoying, but for others who are prone to their attacks, it can be scary worrying that they are spreading a mosquito-borne illness.

If you do get bitten, treating them with calamine lotion or baking soda is the way to go. It makes the itchiness subside.

Here are some ideas if you want to avoid getting bitten, altogether.

A nice, cold beer on a hot summer day sounds appealing, but for some reason, mosquitos are attracted to the blood and scent of someone who has been consuming alcohol.

It just comes down to a mosquito's sense of sight. They can see dark colors more easily and hone in on their target.

Don't pass the chips if you want to avoid getting bit. And skip on the bananas, too. Mosquitoes love the way these chemicals release lactic acid in your body.

Maybe you were dabbing on some perfume to attract your love, but mosquitos go for sexy scents, too. Save the spray for a night out to dinner but skip it if you're going to an outdoor barbeque.