Mosquito control officials say the popular bromeliad plant is a haven for mosquitos. That’s bad news for bromeliad owners, with the threat of the Zika virus looming.
- City of Miami Beach removing bromeliads from all city-owned properties
- City is also urging local businesses, homeowners to do the same
- Pinellas County taking different approach
Gary Lund said he never thought he would see the day where his most beloved plant mentioned in the same sentence with something as terrible as the Zika virus.
Lund is a part of a club dedicated to the plant. When he found out the plant was being blamed for housing the infected mosquitos, he did his own research.
“[Experts] are trying to find a scapegoat," said Lund. "When the scapegoat is gone and the problem persists, then they’ll have to start digging for another scapegoat."
But experts at Pinellas County’s Mosquito Control disagree.
“Since the Zika mosquito everyone is dubbing as the Aedes aegypti mosquito actually prefers small containers of water, these bromeliads are actually a perfect vessel for breeding," said Pinellas County Entomology & Education Support Specialist Rob Krueger. "In fact, it’s one of the last natural habitats that this mosquito actually prefers.”
The city of Miami Beach is removing the plants from all of their city-owned properties. They’re urging nearby businesses and homeowners to do the same.
But Pinellas County is taking a different approach, telling people to flush out the standing water in the plants every couple of days.
It’s something that would make things easier for Stephanie Ferrell and her family, whose neighbor has a yard full of bromeliads. As a result, the Ferrells have had to constantly call Mosquito Control.
“We have a neighbor that’s pregnant, and other people who stay inside because they don’t want to risk this virus,” Ferrell said.
Even though Lund isn’t convinced his prized plant is a Zika mosquito motel, he is urging plant owners to err on the side of caution and take care of the plants properly.