MOSQUITO CONTROL PROGRAM
Commonly Asked Questions
Mosquitoes are by far the most dangerous animals on the earth. Some scientist estimate between 500-700 million people get malaria worldwide each year. That is more than twice the population of the United States. Malaria has virtually been eliminated here in Michigan but the threat of mosquito-borne disease is still very real.
Of the 60 species of mosquitoes found in Michigan many are known to be carriers of dangerous diseases such as West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis and the California group of Encephalitis.
Mosquitoes are responsible for illnesses in both people and animals. While most people recover from mosquito-borne diseases the costs and stress of recovery can be significant.
Also, the annoyance created by mosquitoes deters our quality of life by making us stay indoors instead of enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, golf, riding bikes and spending time with our families.
All mosquitoes must have water to live. They prefer slow moving, stagnant water to lay their eggs. Mosquitoes can complete their life cycle in 7-10 days during the summer months.
Female mosquitoes lay up to 1,000 eggs each, these eggs can lay dormant for 10-15 years even over the winter months and hatch the following summer when conditions are right. This means that each wooded acre can produce 1/2 million mosquitoes.
Controlling the adult population now will help reduce the population in the future by preventing them from laying eggs today.
Mosquito populations fluctuate depending mostly on rainfall. Frequent rainstorms create more standing water and therefore, more mosquitoes.
Depending on the species, mosquitoes can live several weeks to a month. Females live longer than males, but their eggs can live dormant for a decade and hatch when conditions are right.
Only female mosquitoes take blood, they will get the blood from humans, birds, frogs, snakes, and other mammals (dogs, cats, cattle, horses & etc.) so it is important to know what attracts them so you can avoid them.
Attractents are:
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2) our breath
- warm bodies,
- dark-colored clothing
- scents like perfume and deodorant.
The itching we feel from a mosquito bite is our body's reaction to the anticoagulant injected with the female mosquito's saliva as she takes blood.
Aerial predators are often cited in the press as a means for controlling mosquitoes. However, scientific studies do not support the contentions that bats, swallows, purple martins, dragonflies or other aerial predators are effective. Although these methods might sound appealing and the animals have aesthetic and intrinsic value, one has to keep in mind that predation is a natural process that is ongoing. Yet we have mosquitoes anyway often in large numbers.
Actually, birds and bats do not include many mosquitoes in their diets, they prefer larger, more energy-rich prey such as moths and beetles. The idea that they eat thousands of mosquitoes per night comes from statements in the natural history literature indicating that these predators would have to eat 1,000 to maintain their existence.
Outdoor Electronic bug zappers with ultraviolet lights do not control mosquitoes.
So-called "mosquito plants" do not effectively repel mosquitoes and are not recommended for this purpose despite advertisements to this effect.
Other devices such as those advertised to repel mosquitoes by high frequency sound do not actually repel mosquitoes either.
HSS controls mosquitoes aerially. Using an EPA approved product called Anvil 10-10. This material is applied using ultra-low volume (ULV) technology. This is an excellent method for controlling mosquitoes, because it allows for use of a small amount of material in tiny droplets in a narrow band of time and space.
Most species of mosquitoes are night fliers. so we will treat your property just before dusk when the mosquitoes are the most active and when the wind is blowing less than 10 mph.
Aerial treatment does require a minimum amount of acres to be treated effectively. If your property does not meet the minimum we can group neighbors and /or subdivisions together to provide you with cost effective treatment options.
Please contact the office at 616-837-6979 for a quote.
Anvil 10-10 works immediately. You should notice a reduction in the amount of mosquitoes right away. Anvil 10-10 only kills the adult mosquitoes and is NOT effective on eggs that have already been laid. But the reduction of adult mosquitoes means a reduction in eggs that are laid which should result in smaller future hatches.
The treatment should be effective for several days (7-10) depending on the weather.
If there is another heavy rain and hot weather another group of eggs will hatch and you will need to have another spray.
It is very dependant on the weather. Wet hot conditions allow more dormant mosquito eggs to hatch and can cause more of a problem for you.
We will work with you and the environmental conditions to develop a program that is effective for you, your needs and your budget.
Call us at 616-837-6979 and we will make sure to help you get organized so your property can be treated on schedule and you can have a mosquito free summer!
