Authorities in the Florida Keys have announced that they’ll be testing out a drone to help track mosquito breeding ponds.

Authorities in the Florida Keys have announced that they’ll be testing out a drone specifically designed for law enforcement purposes.

They’ll be using them to track one of Florida’s greatest enemies – the mosquito.

Beyond annoying, mosquitoes can carry diseases like West Nile and malaria, the outcome of which can be fatal.

Ponds up and down the Keys are active breeding grounds, and officials from the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District hope that the drones can help them locate all of them.

The specific one being tested is an infrared-camera-outfitted vehicle developed by Condor Aerial.

It weighs just over two pounds and is about 2-and-a-half feet long, making it ideal for maneuvering the often-thick vegetation on the Florida land.

Once the ponds are located, professionals can go in and kill the mosquito larvae with either chemicals or particular fish to keep them from ever hatching.

The ultimate dream is to get drones that will both locate and eradicate the larvae, but for now just isolating them will be helpful.

A wide range of government agencies has been invited to attend the test flight.