'Skeeter-nomics indicator rises

Here's another indicator of an improving economy: People are spending more money this year battling Florida's state insect, the mosquito.

Just ask Reece Lansberg, chief 'skeeter-beater at MosquitoNix of Southwest Florida, a company that installs mosquito-control systems from New Port Richey to Marco Island. The owner of the MosquitoNix franchise on the Gulf Coast has offices in Tampa, Sarasota and Bonita Springs.

“This year, the first quarter we've seen a tremendous amount of uptick. Our call volume has tripled since last year,” says Lansberg, whose average sale is $3,000.

Lansberg says he's particularly enthused by the increased business with new-home builders. He says that business has doubled recently.

This year could be on par with 2008, which Lansberg says was a relatively strong year compared with the downturn in his business in 2009 and 2010.