Are Mosquito Foggers Effective?

03/05/2018

Mosquitoes   

Each year, Americans spend millions of dollars on DIY mosquito control products ranging from a $5 bottle of mosquito spray to foggers costing hundreds. Why do we do this? Because we want to enjoy our yards--not to mention the fact that mosquitoes can carry human pathogens like Zika virus and West Nile virus--even here in Fulton, MD. But how effective are foggers and other mosquito control products? Let's take a look at the problem.

Do Mosquito Foggers Work?

A little bit. But it is important to understand that foggers only kill adult mosquitoes in the direct vicinity of the foggers. They do nothing to address eggs and larvae in your yard. They are also topical, so they're not going to get into some locations that mosquitoes hide, such as underneath your deck or in shrubs, bushes, and other ornamental plants and trees. Foggers purchased from over the counter retailers have active agents that don't work very well or for very long. 

Do Other Over The Counter Mosquito Repellents Work?

Do citronella candles,  mosquito wristbands, and other DIY products work? A little bit. All of these have an extremely limited impact.  Mosquito wristbands and citronella candles have proven to be ineffective in studies because the substances are so minimal. Along with that, none of these products control the population of mosquitoes in your yard, only help you to avoid them. If you want to truly protect yourself and your family from bites, you need a plan that will control and eliminate the mosquito population and breeding grounds.

Mosquito reduction is a proven method for reducing the risk of mosquito-borne pathogens. Here's how it works:

• A technician does a detailed inspection and identifies locations in your yard that allow mosquitoes to live or breed.

• Routine spray treatments are applied in strategic areas around your property to make hiding spots a mosquito trap.

• Breeding areas that can be modified to resist mosquitoes are suggested to you, and areas that cannot be modified are treated with larvicide to make them unusable for mosquito breeding.

Best Mosquito Control Options

When done by a professional, mosquito control can drastically reduce mosquito populations in your yard, and when you reduce mosquito populations you are also reducing your exposure to the dangerous pathogens they are able to spread. 

Mosquito season begins in spring, however,  there have already been reports of mosquito activity this year. Now is the time to get your yard ready to resist and control them. Reach out to us for more information about our industry-leading mosquito service or to schedule an appointment to meet with one of our educated and experienced pest control technicians. We look forward to helping you protect your yard in 2018.

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