Does Municipal Mosquito Spraying Protect You?

2012 is shaping up to be the worst year ever for mosquito-borne diseases. More deaths in the U.S. this year have been attributed to West Nile than ever before and this week brings the first confirmed death by EEE in Massachusetts. With all of the confirmed cases of vector-borne diseases, more municipalities are taking action and misting for mosquitoes, but does it work?

With 2 deaths and 30 confirmed cases of West Nile, Rankin County in Mississippi is ramping up their mosquito control efforts by having sprayers run double shifts in hopes to cut down on the number of mosquitoes. Additionally, larvacide is being added to standing water to stop mosquitoes from maturing. Many municipalities like Rankin are doing this all across the country.

In Massachusetts, a man recently died of EEE, a mosquito-borne disease even though his town is misted by the county. “The misting reduces the number of mosquitoes, but it doesn’t kill all the mosquitoes and it doesn’t penetrate into heavily wooded areas where the mist trucks can’t get,” says Board of Health Director Paul McNulty.

So what does this mean for homeowners? Even though your county sprays the area generally it may not get all the areas where mosquitoes breed and harbor. More protection, whether it’s a mosquito mist that you mist on yourself or a barrier treatment for your yard, may be needed. That’s where Mosquito Squad comes in.

Mosquito Squad applicators mist our effective mosquito control in all the areas that truck sprayers can’t, mainly in your backyard where you spend the majority of your time outdoors. We pay special attention to heavily wooded areas where mosquitoes hide. The mist kills the skeeters on contact and then provides a residual effect for up to 21 days, killing between 85 and 90% of the mosquitoes in your yard.

If you are interested in mosquito control for your yard, contact your local Mosquito Squad office.