VERO BEACH, Fla. — Your backyard could be a gathering spot for mosquitoes capable of spreading dengue, according to University of Florida researchers.
A new UF study found that Aedes aegypti, the primary mosquito species responsible for transmitting dengue, was relatively common in residential yards in Indian River County.
The finding does not mean dengue is circulating in the county, researchers emphasized. It shows why yards can be important places to monitor mosquito exposure.
Researchers had expected to find more Aedes albopictus, another species capable of transmitting dengue, because of the area’s vegetation and suburban setting.
“It was definitely surprising to find that we saw more Aedes aegypti,” said study co-author Panpim Thongsripong, an assistant professor at UF’s Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory.
The team paired mosquito trapping with Bite Diary, a temporary smartphone-based app that allowed participants to record when and where they were bitten.
Eighty-three people participated in the study, with 71 registering for the app. Participants recorded bites and outdoor activities over a four-day period. Researchers also collected 3,788 female mosquitoes from 78 residential yards.
Many reported bites happened close to home during ordinary activities, including gardening and walking dogs.
However, the number of mosquitoes trapped in a yard did not correlate with the number of bites participants reported. People who spent more time outdoors during evening hours were more likely to report bites.
Researchers said combining information about people’s routines with mosquito surveillance could give public health officials a clearer picture of exposure.
Residents can help reduce mosquito populations by regularly emptying containers that hold water around their homes. Both species can lay eggs and develop in very small amounts of water, researchers said.
The team also recommended using repellents containing ingredients such as DEET, picaridin or PMD when spending time outdoors.
The research was funded by an $85,000 UF/IFAS Faculty Seed Grant.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2026 Cox Media Group
