The mosquito. Such a small insect, yet one that’s far more than just a nuisance. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mosquitoes spread more disease than any other insect—i.e., West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Zika and malaria—making them the culprit in several million deaths and hundreds of millions of illnesses annually.
Mosquitos are tough and resilient and can survive in a broad range of climates, but flourish especially well near water. As such, many home landscapes are perfect breeding grounds for mosquito infestations. Stopping them today—and tomorrow—is a two-part process.
Prevention: A Two-Part Process:
Part One: Actions that you and your customers can take to minimize or eliminate the ideal mosquito-breeding conditions
Part Two: Proactive abatement measures
Part One:
You and your clients can minimize or eliminate ideal mosquito-breeding conditions by doing the following:
- Inspect customer properties for water-holding items—i.e., flowerpots, birdbaths, tire swings, grill covers, pool covers, etc.—as these can harbor mosquito eggs.
- Fill in tree rot holes and hollow stumps that hold water.
- Unclog gutters and drainpipes.
- Check gutters, windows, porch lights, etc. for standing water.
- Cut grass short and trim shrubbery around dwellings to reduce hiding places for adult mosquitos.
- Repair leaky irrigation or drainage pipes and faucets.
- Fill in or drain low spots in yards where stormwater can collect
- Remind customers to:
- Change birdbath and plant-drip-tray water weekly (at least).
- Drill drainage holes in tire swings and other water-collecting outdoor objects.
- Ensure trash cans are sealed properly and kept away from outdoor living areas.
Part Two:
Deploy an array of effective mosquito-abatement products for different scenarios.
SiteOne offers a variety of products that can be used for specific applications or in conjunction with others—not only eliminating today’s irritating mosquitos, but future generations as well.
- Mosquito Dunks®: Use in standing-water fixtures like water gardens (including fish habitats) as well as in unintentional water-accumulation spots (i.e., flower pots, tree holes, birdbaths, roof gutter, rain barrels, old tires, etc.).
Pet-safe Mosquito Dunks will kill mosquitoes in those places “before they’re old enough to bite,” as the product description promises. Dunks last for 30+ days under normal conditions and release a long-term, biological mosquito larvicide on the water’s surface which is eaten by mosquito larvae that grow there.
- LESCO Mosquito-Free Insecticide: For addressing general mosquito infestations, spray this product—derived from natural ingredients—under shrubs and wood piles, in leafy, shady or moist areas, and into trees—up and under leaves. Product also kills ticks, fleas and gnats.
One 36 oz. container of LESCO Mosquito-Free Insecticide concentrate makes up to 300 gallons of spray. For best results, areas should be treated with product every 21-30 days.
The product is ideal for use in post-drainage scenarios of previously wet areas. If you’re looking for guidance or information on drainage services, visit your local SiteOne branch or our drainage resource center.
- LESCO Crosscheck products: These broad-spectrum insecticides have multiple applications in a range of settings, and are effective on a wide variety of pests (including mosquitos). For more details on the LESCO Crosscheck product line, see this article.
- In2Care Mosquito Station: For ongoing mosquito abatement, the In2Care Mosquito Station, made of durable recycled polypropylene (PP), fits the bill. Field-proven, In2Care stations are placed throughout landscaping, killing mosquito larvae and pupae (even insecticide-resistant mosquitoes) as they reduce the risk of mosquito-borne virus transmission.
What’s even better is that the In2Care Station uses the mosquito itself to spread the active ingredients to where only mosquitos can go. The stations themselves last several years under tropical conditions, and, for optimal performance, the active ingredients (in the gauze strip on the floater component) need to be replaced every 4-6 weeks using refill sachets.
- Demand CS + Archer Insecticide Multipak: According to the EPA, “Successful mosquito management requires intervening at some point during the mosquito’s life cycle before they bite and infect a human.”
The ideal strategy for controlling the spread of mosquitos, says the agency, is to intervene in every life stage of a mosquito, by way of a multifaceted approach known as integrated pest management (IPM).
A good example of an IPM approach is the Syngenta SecureChoice Flea & Mosquito Assurance Programs which combines Demand CS Insecticide with Archer Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) into the Demand CS + Archer Insecticide Multipak.
Demand CS delivers immediate and residual control of more than 30 nuisance pests, including mosquitoes. Use Demand CS in, on and around buildings and structures to control a wide variety of pests on lawns, ornamental trees and shrubs and athletic fields; around residential, institutional, public, commercial, agricultural and industrial buildings; and in parks and recreational areas.
Archer IGR is essentially a type of birth control for pests that disrupts the lifecycle of pest eggs and larvae, preventing them from maturing into adulthood, and thereby preventing current and future infestations.
Some of the above listed products are regulated and require varying levels of licensure. Call your local SiteOne branch for information on local mosquito control regulations as well as with any other questions about mosquito control, and when you’re ready, order all the above products online at SiteOne.com.