Mosquitoes are a pest that can ruin any outdoor gathering or backyard barbeque. They are persistent and bothersome insects that can pose serious health risks through the viruses they carry. If you have tried other mosquito prevention or elimination strategies with little success, mosquito spraying with a pest control company may be an effective solution to your mosquito problem.
What Are Mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes are flying insects that are found in places all over the world. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the lifecycle of a mosquito is typically 2-4 weeks and happens in 4 stages:
- The female mosquito lays eggs in locations with water or places that will fill with water.
- The eggs hatch into larvae which live and feed in the water.
- The larvae then turn into pupae, continuing to live in the water but not feeding.
- The adult mosquitoes emerge from the pupae and fly away.
Female mosquitoes are the only mosquitoes that feed on humans and animals. When they bite infected humans or animals, they can become infected with viruses, diseases, and parasites, which they then pass on (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
The Problem
The fact that mosquitoes can become infected and pass that infection on poses a serious problem. Mosquitoes have carried viruses such as Zika, West Nile, Malaria, Yellow Fever, Dengue, and many others. These viruses cause varying health complications such as birth defects, severe illness, and even death when not treated quickly. While not every mosquito is infected, there is always a chance that one will be.
Aside from infection, mosquitoes also make it difficult to enjoy the time you spend in your yard. Their bites cause itching and swelling, which might lead you to go back into your house.
The Solution
One solution to mosquitoes on your property is to hire a company to spray for mosquitoes. This method involves spraying insecticide in a fine mist over an area of land or into the air, which kills the mosquitoes in that area. Effective mosquito spraying in areas where mosquitoes are present should make is big difference in your outdoor comfort.
Spraying for mosquitoes is an effective method for eliminating mosquitoes on your property. However, you should understand the pros and cons of mosquito spraying before hiring a mosquito spray company.
Pros of Spraying for Mosquitoes
Disease Prevention
As discussed above, mosquitoes can bring serious health risks. Spraying around your home kills mosquitoes that could potentially be carrying viruses or parasites. Ultimately, eliminating the mosquito presence around your home is more effective at preventing disease than products meant to deter or keep mosquitoes away.
Personal Comfort
Spraying gets rid of mosquitoes, which allows you to be more comfortable in your yard or outdoor space. Having few to no mosquitoes means no mosquito bites. You no longer need to be itchy and uncomfortable outside.
In addition, you won’t need to use topical insect repellent like bug spray to keep the mosquitoes away. If you don’t have to use bug spray, you won’t need to worry about the smell or feel of the spray on your skin.
Enjoy The Outdoors Again
You have a yard for a reason: to enjoy the outdoors. Mosquitoes often prevent us from spending as much time outside as we’d like to. If you spray for mosquitoes, you will have peace of mind and you will be able to spend more time outdoors and actually enjoy your time outdoors without having to worry about pesky mosquitoes ruining your experience.
Cons of Spraying for Mosquitoes
Risk to People
The chemicals used when spraying for mosquito pest control are typically pyrethroids, which is a neurotoxin that causes mosquitoes to die. While these chemicals are considered safe for humans, they are not entirely safe.
Excessive skin exposure can have negative effects, studies have shown that mammals’ nervous systems are impacted by this chemical, and death can result from ingesting pyrethroids.
However, when the appropriate safety measures are taken, spraying for mosquitoes is considered a safe pest control process.
Risk to Other Insects
There has been a lot of backlash against mosquito spraying since the spray can also kill other insects such as honey bees, solitary bees, monarch caterpillars, and fireflies. In addition, the spray can kill spiders, centipedes, and millipedes. These insects and arthropods pick up the sprayed chemicals when they land on or eat treated greenery.
Killing insects has an impact on birds who depend on these insects for food. It also limits the number of insects that spread pollen, which will take a toll on the plants around your home.
Time
Spraying for mosquitoes can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on how large the affected area is. However, you also need to wait a minimum of 10-20 minutes before going outside after spraying to allow the chemicals to settle and protect yourself from breathing in the insecticide.
This may not seem like a lot of time, but in comparison to other mosquito control products that can be applied or used immediately, spraying for mosquitoes does require more planning and time to implement.
Cost
Mosquito spraying is also more costly than alternative products. You can purchase a mosquito coil or bug spray for less than five dollars; hiring mosquito spray companies can cost you hundreds of dollars by the end of the mosquito season. While spraying for mosquitoes is a more effective and long-term solution, the cost may be a deciding factor on whether you decide to spray for mosquitoes.
Conclusion
Clearly, there are many pros and cons to spraying your yard for mosquitoes, and you may still be wondering if you should use this mosquito control method. Mosquito spraying is a highly effective method. When it is done correctly, it is safe to use around your home. It does take more planning and has a higher cost, but it allows you to enjoy your time outdoors in comfort.
My recommendation is to spray for mosquitoes for the best results around your home; however, you should seek out an all-natural spray pest control company or mosquito control service to ensure the highest amount of safety for you, your family, and for the insects that aren’t causing you any harm.