Horry County Mosquito Control

- 4401 Privetts Rd, Conway, SC 29526

For residents of Horry County, particularly in the humid environment of the Grand Strand and its inland communities, mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance; they are a serious public health concern. Horry County Mosquito Control, operating as a crucial part of the county government's public health and infrastructure services, is the dedicated local office responsible for the abatement of biting mosquitoes. Their primary mission is to provide both temporary and permanent control methods to prevent the spread of diseases such as West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), while also improving the quality of outdoor life for all citizens.

The office operates under an Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) philosophy, which combines various strategies for the most effective and responsible mosquito reduction. This is not simply a reactive spraying service; it’s a proactive, science-backed approach that includes public education, comprehensive surveillance, and targeted treatments.

While many residents primarily associate the department with the familiar sight of the spray trucks at dusk, their work encompasses everything from monitoring drainage systems to applying larvicides—a preventative measure to kill mosquitoes before they even take flight. The challenge of the South Carolina climate, with its warm temperatures and abundant standing water sources, requires the kind of systematic, professional intervention that only a dedicated county department can provide.

Horry County Mosquito Control is strategically located in Conway, providing a centralized base of operations for a widespread county service area. Their physical address serves as the hub for coordinating surveillance, chemical control efforts (both ground and aerial), and public inquiries across the county, including the densely populated coastal regions and the more rural inland areas.

The office can be found at:

4401 Privetts Rd, Conway, SC 29526, USA

While the physical office is in Conway, accessibility to the service is primarily managed through official communication channels and a dedicated hotline. For residents, this accessibility means that you do not need to visit the office to request service. Instead, the department encourages citizens to use their official request systems—often an online form or a service hotline—to report mosquito issues and request spraying, ensuring that resources are deployed efficiently and quickly across the entire county.

This centralized location and streamlined request process are essential for their ability to respond to localized flare-ups of mosquito activity or specific public health concerns in a timely manner. Their coverage is comprehensive, extending to the unincorporated areas of Horry County.

Horry County Mosquito Control employs an Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) strategy to deliver a comprehensive suite of services, going far beyond a simple insecticide application. These professional services include:

• Surveillance and Disease Monitoring:
  • Regular trapping and monitoring of mosquito populations (adult and larval) to determine density and species type.
  • Testing of collected mosquitoes for the presence of pathogens like West Nile Virus (WNV) to assess public health risk.
• Chemical Control (Adulticiding and Larviciding):
  • Mosquito Spraying / Adulticiding: Application of EPA-approved insecticides via truck-mounted foggers (ground spraying) during the mosquitoes' peak active times (typically dusk to dawn).
  • Aerial Spraying: Contracted fixed-wing or helicopter spraying for rapid reduction of large mosquito populations in extensive or inaccessible areas.
  • Larviciding: Targeted treatment of standing water (breeding sources like ponds, ditches, and catch basins) with larvicides to kill mosquitoes before they can hatch into biting adults.
• Source Reduction and Drainage Systems Improvement:
  • Identifying and addressing environmental factors that promote mosquito breeding, such as clogged drainage and standing water.
  • Collaboration with the Horry County Stormwater Department on issues related to drainage systems and road construction that impact mosquito habitats.
• Public Education and Outreach:
  • Providing information to residents on how to eliminate backyard breeding sites (e.g., removing standing water from containers).
  • Offering specialized programs like the "Beekeeper Registry" to avoid spraying near registered honeybee hives, protecting local pollinators.
  • Guidance on personal protection and the use of insect repellent.
• Direct Resident Service Requests:
  • Responding to direct calls and online requests from residents to investigate specific problem areas.
  • Conducting site inspections to locate and eliminate potential mosquito breeding areas on private properties.

The Horry County Mosquito Control office provides several key features that highlight its role as an essential local government service:

• Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) Approach: They use a scientifically validated, multi-pronged strategy that targets mosquitoes at every life stage, combining education, surveillance, source reduction, and chemical treatment for maximum effectiveness.
• Responsive Service Request System: Residents have a direct line via phone (843-381-8000) and online forms to request ground spraying, ensuring the service is citizen-driven and responsive to immediate community needs. The stated goal is to investigate all citizen inquiries within 24 hours.
• Public Health Focus: The program's core function is protecting citizens from mosquito-borne diseases, elevating the service beyond nuisance control to a critical public health defense mechanism.
• Pollinator Protection Protocol: The office maintains a Beekeepers Registry, allowing local beekeepers to register their hives to receive warnings before aerial spraying and ensuring drivers turn off ground sprayers near registered locations.
• Broad Geographic Reach: Utilizing both truck-mounted ULV foggers for neighborhood-level control and contracted aircraft for aerial treatment, they can cover the vast, diverse, and often inaccessible terrain of Horry County efficiently.

To request service, report a mosquito problem, or inquire about spraying schedules, Horry County residents should use the following contact information. Remember that contacting the department is the most direct way to initiate service in your area.

Address: 4401 Privetts Rd, Conway, SC 29526, USA

Primary Phone (Road & Drainage Hotline, including Mosquito Control): (843) 381-8000

Mobile Phone: +1 843-381-8000

Choosing to rely on the Horry County Mosquito Control department is essential for South Carolina residents for several compelling reasons, primarily rooted in the service's public health mandate and scale of operation. The biggest benefit of using the County's Mosquito Control is its ability to conduct large-scale, coordinated action—a capability that private companies simply cannot replicate. They are tasked with protecting the entire community from disease and manage the comprehensive surveillance, which acts as an early warning system for viruses like WNV.

Furthermore, while some community members may feel the timing of spraying is occasionally "late," this public service offers treatment that covers entire neighborhoods and large, inaccessible breeding grounds like swamps and ditches—the very sources feeding the local mosquito population. By utilizing chemical control methods that are EPA-approved and applied by certified professionals, the county ensures the chemicals used are effective while minimizing risk to residents and the environment, a level of oversight a homeowner cannot guarantee with do-it-yourself methods.

Horry County Mosquito Control is not a choice, but a critical investment made by the county government to ensure the health and outdoor enjoyment of every resident. By utilizing their service request hotline and proactively participating in their source reduction educational programs (e.g., removing standing water in your yard), local users can maximize the effectiveness of this vital public service and help reduce the mosquito population county-wide.

Horry County Mosquito Control

4401 Privetts Rd, Conway, SC 29526, USA