Page 6 - Jupiter Spotlight - August '23

Page 6, Jupiter Spotlight
Northern Notes

Midges – Those Pesky Insects! Midges have become a prevalent pest over the last few
years due to several key factors:
By Katie Roundtree, 1. The number of developments that require stormwater
Director of Finance and systems to prevent flooding has increased.
Administration, Northern 2. High nutrient loads in deep stormwater systems is ideal for
Palm Beach County midge breeding.
Improvement District 3. Low dissolved oxygen levels are factors found in deep
Blind mosquitoes, phantom lakes.
midges, aquatic midges, no-see- • Have long tarsi of foot portions of the forelegs So, what do we do about them? Chemical treatments by a
ums – call them what you will, • Lack scales on their wings, making them smooth licensed contractor, where applicable, for both larval and adult
when they hatch, you’ll know it! Mosquitoes have the following characteristics: stages can provide temporary and expensive relief. To get
If you live on or near a • When landed, hold their second/back leg pair in the air to the root of the problem, the amount of nutrients going
retention pond or similar body • Have scaly wings with a light fringe on their tips into waterbodies must be reduced. This can be achieved by
of water in Florida, chances are • Typically, don’t form swarms utilizing best management practices while applying fertilizers
you are familiar with large swarms of flying insects that inundate Aquatic midges breed in habitats such as ponds, lakes, and managing inflows to the stormwater system. Adding oxygen
your house, yard, and screen room periodically throughout the year, wastewater treatment plants, and areas with nutrient rich water. to the stormwater system with diffusers and aerators will improve
especially in warmer climates such as Texas and Florida. Midge flies are a food source for other aquatic insects, such as the health of lakes and ponds by increasing dissolved oxygen. By
Midge flies belong to a very large and diverse family of aquatic dragonfly nymphs and several varieties of fish, so the goal is not addressing these contributing factors, hatch offs can be greatly
insects. Midges are small, dainty flies with one pair of long, narrow to completely eliminate them, but to keep them in proper balance reduced. You may want to try lowering your light output at
wings, and long, skinny legs. While often thought of as the “cousin” of within the ecosystem. Areas that receive an excess of lawn night so the midges are less attracted to your area. Home barrier
mosquitoes, midges don’t bite, sting, suck blood or transmit disease. fertilizer runoff and very deep, organic lakes tend to be densely chemical sprays may also offer some temporary relief.
They can, however, become a terrible nuisance and trigger allergies populated with midges, particularly with phantom midges. The Thank you to Solitude Lake Management for courtesy photo
or respiratory issues. juvenile stages of development occurs in the water and, upon and article contributions.
Midges and mosquitoes are often mistaken for each other, which hatching, large swarms of adults congregate on surfaces of NPDES tip: Your neighborhood drainage system is not a
makes sense given that both belong to the order Diptera. The largest buildings, screens, shrubs, etc. garbage disposal – don’t treat it like one. Encourage residents to
difference between the two is that mosquitoes have a proboscis, a These hatches create severe nuisance problems as they are take responsibility and to not dump chemicals, fertilizer, paint,
mouthpart used to bite and suck blood. Midges do not, and do not attracted to light. Spiders form webs in the eaves and around oil, etc., in inlets or pipes. Discourage sweeping of lawn clippings
bite humans. Otherwise, most of the differences visible to the eye homes to catch midges resulting in excessive cleaning and and dirt into street drains and disposing of lawn clippings and
are found in the fine details. expense. Midges can get caught up in air-conditioning units other debris (wood, concrete blocks, Christmas trees, etc.)
Midges have the following characteristics: and cause failure to the unit. Some residents in Florida have directly into retention lakes. Keep drainage facilities clear of
• When landed, fold their first leg pair in a “prayer” position (which complained that allergies and asthma attacks have increased vegetation, trash, improperly and illegally discarded appliances,
can be mistaken for antennae) during large midge hatch offs. shopping carts, tires, cars, garbage bags, etc.
Commissioner’s Update

Speeding Up Inspections A licensed inspector You Asked! We Heard You!
performs the inspection with Same Day Inspections On-Demand
By Commissioner Maria the contractor or their designee No Hassles! No Roll-Overs!
Marino on the jobsite using a free, No Additional Cost!
Palm Beach County’s secure Video Inspection Pro
Building Division reviews smartphone app available for Enjoy the convenience of having your inspection as soon as the work is
thousands of building permits Android and iPhones. There completed - while workers are still on the project site!
each year. When construction is no additional cost for the
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Video Inspection Pro is Simple—Get Started Today by Downloading the App from your App Store
is underway, inspections recorded inspections, no pre-  Remote video inspection takes just a few minutes to complete
are required to ensure scheduling requirement, and  There is no additional cost for the inspection.
compliance with codes. the results are available in the  Saves time! Inspections On Demand means NO pre-scheduling required co n f e r en ci n g
 Ability for the Inspector to guide the inspection via secure hi-def video conferencing
During the current fiscal year online ePZB portal.  Video record of the inspection
(10/1/22 to 9/30/23) thus far, The system is easy to use,
the division has conducted visit https://discover.pbcgov. Single Family Dwelling Residential Permit Descriptions Eligible for Video Inspection Pro* Include:
more than 164,000 inspections. or g/ pzb/building/PDF/  Reroofing - Mitigation Reroofing – SFD  Siding
To meet the high demand for inspections and to save the VIP_On_Demand_Video_  Door – Overhead or Roll-Up replacement – Garage  Stucco on Lath
 HVAC – Equipment change out
 Tube Type Skylight
public time and reduce the inconvenience of scheduling Inspections.pdf to view the  Plumbing – Water Heater change out  Solar Photovoltaic
 Water Heater – Electric Hardware
 A/C change out – electric hardware
and waiting for an inspection, the division has launched flyer which has a QR code  Shutters  Window & Door replacement
a new program offering video inspections. This program you can scan to download the
specifically applies to limited residential permit descriptions app, register your account and
as part of single-family home renovation projects requiring submit your inspection request.
a permit and includes: For assistance in getting
*Reroofing started, staff is available at
*Garage door replacement (888) 820-1180.
*HVAC equipment change out I hope you find this new Remote video inspections are performed in partnership with
Video Inspection Pro by licensed inspectors.
*Plumbing/water heater change out service helpful in speeding up Get Started Today with 3 Easy Steps:

*A/C electric hardware inspections on your project,  Download the Free App

*Shutters and if I can assist you in any   Register Your Account

Submit Your Inspection Request
*Siding way, please contact me at or search
*Stucco on lath (561) 355-2201, or by email   Service is exclusively for use within the State of Florida Video Inspection Pro
Coordinates GPS location confirmation with Google Maps
in your App Store
*Tube-type skylight at mmarino@pbcgov.org.
*Solar photovoltaic system
*Water heater electric hardware
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