A new round of aerial mosquito spraying is set to begin Thursday, despite the concerns of neighbors.
Action News Jax has learned that St. Johns County is using the controversial chemical called Naled after it was suggested by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The fear of the chemical's effects extends not only to kids and expectant mothers, but also to pets and wildlife.
One of the concerns is the impact on bees, with some species being put on the endangered species list.
“One-third of our food crop comes from [the] pollination of bees, so they’re needed for a lot of things," said Bo Sterk, who has over 20 years of master beekeeping. "We wouldn’t have a lot of food that we rely on without pollination.”
Sterk said Hurricane Matthew has already taken a toll on bee populations, but aerial spraying for mosquitoes could cause an even bigger problem.
“It’s going to kill some bees and it’s going to kill all insects in general,” Sterk said.
According to Chris Bibbs with the Anastasia Mosquito Control District, the aerial spraying of Naled has already reduced mosquito count from 200 to two per minute. He said the chemical won’t impact people, animals or water, but it will kill all insects.
“At the dosages we’re using," Bibbs said, "insects can be expected to be affected instantly.”
The aerial spray will happen at night when bees aren’t active.
“It’s a positive thing, but it’s a negative thing if you’re not aware of what’s going on,” Bibbs said.
To protect these hives from aerial spraying, Sterk said people can cover them with a blanket so that chemicals don't come in contact with bees.