mosquito control backyard
We get a lot of questions and concerns about backyard mosquito sprays. We interviewed two experts to learn more about the risks.
Each year, more yards are being sprayed for mosquitos. Did you know you could be poisoning your yard but mosquito populations are not being reduced?
Before deciding to spray your yard, know the facts. Spraying can harm you, your kids, pets and your neighbors. The chemicals can also harm birds and insects that help eat mosquitos and pollinate your yard.
Video: Mosquito Control Costs & Tips For Comparing Mosquito Control Companies In Md
Kill mosquito larvae. You should always remove standing water from your yard, including under flowerpots, inside wheelbarrows, and pretty much on anything plastic. Don’t forget to clean out your gutters even in summer (you’ll be rewarded with a dry basement in addition to fewer mosquitos)!
MT: There’s a reason why Disneyland, in a part of Florida with lots of mosquitos doesn’t use pesticides to control mosquitos. They take an approach that neighborhoods, HOAs, and businesses can all use right here—they ensure water doesn’t stay standing long enough for a mosquito to lay its egg and hatch into an adult—which is about 7 days. The BTI dunks are great solutions–in fact one of the best ways to treat mosquitoes is to give them a chance to breed in a bucket filled with straw and water and a BTI dunk. The females are attracted to the smell of the wet straw and water and lay their eggs in there, but the BTI dunk then kills the larvae. It’s like a trap, and will help the whole neighborhood reduce mosquito populations!
MT: The CDC reported 6 cases of West Nile in Maryland in 2019, and no deaths. In 2018, there were 245 cases of all types of mosquito borne illnesses in Maryland, although it cannot be attributed to whether those were carried in the bodies of visitors or spread by mosquitos in the State. I looked up estimated cancer diagnoses for the first half of 2020, and we’re already at nearly 35, 000 cancer cases. I’ll choose long sleeves and clearing standing water instead of spraying chemicals that won’t actually be effective but are a risk to my health.
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DL: Prevent mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and using non-toxic repellents that use oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE). Data shows OLE-based repellants are just as effective as the synthetic DEET formulations. DEET can be toxic at high levels and can damage synthetic clothing. A fan on your deck can be surprisingly effective – mosquitos are weak fliers, and the breeze from a fan will not only cool you off but will keep them away from the area.
MT: Companies might describe that the chemicals used are derived from chrysanthemum flowers, but they are not from plant extracts. Commercial pyrethroids are synthetically produced to mimic the same properties of the pyrethrins in chrysanthemum flowers. Both chemicals paralyze the nervous system of many insects, but synthetic pyrethroids and the undisclosed chemicals they are mixed with are designed to be more lethal. Pyrethroids are neuropoisons in humans, and can cause rashes, respiratory distress, allergic reactions, headache, nausea, convulsions, and more. The additives can cause a host of other reactions. Pyrethroids are also very toxic to fish and other aquatic life, and spread easily on the wind to neighboring properties and into streams. The chemicals can persist on surfaces for days, further killing insects that come into contact.
MT: I looked up the data from the national poison control centers – over 27, 000 calls were placed to poison control in 2018 for pyrethrins and pyrethroids, accounting for over 33% of the pesticide calls to poison control alone! Imagine how many more exposures are unknown.
Mosquito And Tick Control In Boston
Here’s another tip: If you’re looking for a way to reduce the entire population, consider these simple devices called OviTraps—used by the military around the world effectively to reduce mosquito populations. Don’t forget to keep removing standing water from your yard all summer long and remind your neighbors to do the same. Your neighbors, pets, birds, pollinators, fireflies and skin will thank you!With warmer temperatures come backyard cookouts, summer parties and — we hate to say it — tons of mosquitos. While humid environments are better breeding grounds for these pesky bugs, they can survive almost anywhere, as long as they have access to water. But just because their presence is inevitable doesn't mean you have to suffer through itchy mosquito bites and annoying buzzes: Take matters into your own hands by protecting your yard with the best mosquito repellents and bug sprays.
The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have battled all manner of backyard nuisances for decades. They can tell you why mosquito bites are so itchy (it's a reaction caused by the salivary proteins of female mosquitoes), why pregnant people tend to get munched on (the extra carbon dioxide and heat their bodies release) and which treatments provide the fastest belief (go for the 1% hydrocortisone cream). For this report, our experts pulled together a list of the best mosquito repellants for keeping the bugs from reaching you in the first place.
Read more about the most effective mosquito repellents you can buy below, including top-rated machines, sprays, candles and more; you can find more information about how we choose the best mosquito repellants and how to prevent bites in the first place at the bottom of this guide. Looking for ways to naturally repel mosquitos? Check out our guide to the best mosquito repellent plants.
Reasons Mosquito Spray For Backyard Is Better Than Traditional Bug Repellent
If you don't want to fiddle with sprays or candles, this cordless, scent-free device relies on heat-activated repellants to create a 15-foot bug-free zone, perfect for dinners on the deck or other small-scale outdoor entertaining. Our experts like the simplicity of the design, plus Thermacell's claim that its repellant uses EPA-approved pyrethroid as its active ingredient.
To operate the Thermacell Patio Shield, simply insert a 12-hour fuel cartridge and a four-hour repellant mat into the cylinder, then activate the cartridge to generate heat. As the mat becomes hot, it releases an invisible shield of repellant. A view window makes it easy to check that the device is working, and replacement fills are fairly affordable, costing about $20 for 48
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