What You Need to Know Before Spraying for Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes suck—quite literally. That’s not only their role in the ecosystem of life, but it’s also an accurate way to describe how most of us feel about them. There are many ways to get rid of mosquitoes in your general area, and one is to spray repellant to keep them away. But there are some things you should know about this type of approach to mosquito control before spraying for mosquitoes.

What is mosquito spray?

Insect control sprays are usually made up of powerful chemicals, and mosquito control sprays are no exception. In residential mosquito control, companies often use insecticides called pyrethrins. These are chemicals made from chrysanthemum flowers or synthetic chemicals that mimic them. These chemicals are approved and regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but that only takes into account their effect on humans.

Effect on the environment

There are other environmental concerns to take into account besides pyrethrins’ effect on humans. For example, this chemical affects many other flying insects like butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Bees are especially susceptible to this toxin, which will kill them on contact and even up to two days after an area is treated. The EPA has acknowledged this, and there’s really no way to avoid the chemical coming into contact with other insects if your yard is treated with it.

It’s not just bees and butterflies that are harmed by this type of mosquito control; other insects like ladybugs, dragonflies and more are harmed by it as well. With a decline in bugs to eat, bird populations will also leave the area. As you can see, there is a trickle-down effect of mosquito control that affects much more than the intended target.

Alternatives to spraying for mosquitoes

There are some alternatives to spraying for mosquitoes using these harmful chemicals. For example, there are sprays marketed as organic that have less of an impact on other creatures in the environment. These are often made up of plant-based essential oils. While these are less harmful, they can still do damage to pollinators (like bees, especially), so spraying them directly on flowers should be avoided.

The best way to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard is to take steps to avoid them being there in the first place. For example, mosquito larvae develop in stagnant water, and when they reach their flying, biting, blood-sucking form, they tend to stay around the area they were born. Look for areas where water might collect like buckets, empty plant pots, uncovered pools, toys, ponds and roof gutters. If possible, cover them or flip them over. In the case of gutters, keep them from getting clogged to avoid water pooling up.

Of course, even with the best preventative efforts, there can still be mosquitoes in your yard. When you need experienced professionals ready to handle any type of pest with minimal inconvenience to your living situation, reach out to the team at Crist Termite and Pest Solutions, Inc. for the best in pest control.

Categorised in: Mosquito Control