FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSQUICK FACTS ABOUT MOSQUITOES
MOSQUITO CONTROL
Why Do We Need Mosquito Control?• To enhance summer enjoyment. Summers are short in many parts of the country, and many people enjoy being outdoors during this time. • To prevent disease transmission to animals and people, especially the elderly and children, who are most at risk. What Can The Property Owner Do To Reduce Mosquitoes?
What Can I Do To Minimize Risk To My Employees Who Must Work Outdoors?The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health offers guidelines for minimizing the risk to outdoor workers. Here is a link to that information: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/westnile/wnvfacts_outdr.html How Do Mosquitoes Spread Disease?Mosquitoes spread diseases when they “bite” their victims. Although it's commonly referred to as a bite, the actual process is a piercing/sucking action. Only the female mosquito bites, piercing her victim's skin with a structure similar to a long, sharp-ended straw. She must suck her victim's blood up through the shaft; but the blood is thick. To make the blood easier to draw, she injects her saliva (which contains blood thinners) into it. This saliva is what causes irritation and itch. If her victim's blood contains disease-causing organisms, they too get drawn up into the mosquito's stomach. The organisms are maintained within the mosquito and eventually injected into the next victim's bloodstream. In this way the mosquito can spread disease from animal to animal, animal to man, or from one person to another. Where Can I Find Information About The Safety Of Mosquito Control Products?Every product that Professional Mosquito Control sells or uses in their service has the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and Label available, either online (next to the corresponding product), via fax or snail mail. For general safety questions, we have provided a link to the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) webpage of frequent questions about mosquito control at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes/mosquito_faq.htm#6. How effective are mosquito-catching devices?Do bug zappers work? Not really. Studies have shown that the majority of the bugs the zappers kill are not mosquitoes. Only 3-4% of the bugs found in the zappers are biting mosquitoes. They actually kill more of the bugs that feed on the mosquitoes. Do carbon dioxide emitting machines work?There has been no scientific data to prove that these machines collect enough mosquitoes to make any significant reduction in the mosquito population. Carbon dioxide is only one of the chemicals that attract female mosquitoes. They are also very sensitive to other chemicals, such as hormones and amino acids. Some people claim the carbon dioxide attracts more mosquitoes to a specific area, potentially increasing the population. Will Putting Up Bat Houses In My Yard Control Mosquitoes?Many people believe that increasing the bat population will reduce the mosquito population. While bats eat a lot of insects, they do not prefer mosquitoes. A recent study found that mosquitoes made up only 0.7% of the bat's diet. What Are Mosquitoes Light Traps For?We use the light traps to evaluate the effectiveness of our applications. Homeowners associations use them to evaluate the effectiveness of their programs, whether they are doing their own mosquito control or if we are providing service for them. The light traps are also used by cities that only do applications for mosquito control when the population reaches a pre-determined threshold level. What Is The Difference Between Thermal And ULV Fogging?Thermal Fogging A thermal fogger is appropriately named since it is a device that uses heat to produce a fog without degrading the active ingredient. A thermal fogger produces a range of droplet sizes including a large number of very small droplets. This makes a thermal fogger the preferred type of equipment to reach air spaces in areas highly obstructed by vegetation, or other physical obstructions such as buildings. The large number of very small droplets produced in a thermally generated fog also make the fog highly visible. This can help the operator to monitor the fog and ensure thoroughness of application. Ultra-Low-Volume (ULV) Cold FoggingULV Cold Fogging A ULV sprayer generates fog droplets by using a high volume of air at low pressure. Such a system enables droplets of a more precise size to be generated. The absence of a large number of very small droplets will limit the penetration of the fog into highly obstructed areas. ULV sprayers can dispense formulations in a more concentrated form since less diluent is required. Also, the ability to be able to calibrate the machine to produce droplets of the optimum size for the type of chemical being used make ULV spraying the method of choice whenever possible. Can I Request To Have My Property Excluded From Spraying?Yes. Professional Mosquito Control maintains a file of residents who wish to have their property excluded from spraying. Once you have requested to be excluded, that request will remain in effect until we are otherwise notified. Do You Service The Same Area As The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) In MN?Professional Mosquito Control is not affiliated with the MMCD, but we do offer private services for homeowners and businesses located in the area covered by the MMCD. Here is a link to their site: http://www.mmcd.org/ . What Are Asian Lady Beetles?
Lady beetles are beneficial because they feed on harmful insects such as aphids, that can damage plants in gardens and landscapes. However, one lady beetle species, the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis , has become very troublesome in Minnesota . Also known as Halloween lady beetles, Japanese lady beetle, and Asian lady beetle, these insects cluster around buildings in large numbers during fall as they search for protected sites to overwinter. History Although multicolored Asian lady beetles were never released in Minnesota , they moved into the state from nearby areas. They were first sighted in Minnesota in 1995. The first report of major infestations around buildings occurred in 1998, and by 2000 the insect had generally dispersed throughout the state. Identification Habits Importance Management Install tight-fitting door sweeps or thresholds at the base of all exterior entry doors. Gaps of 1/16 inch or more will permit entry of insects. Seal openings where pipes and wires enter the foundation and siding, for instance, around outdoor faucets, receptacles, gas meters, clothes dryer vents, and telephone/cable TV wires. Holes can be plugged with caulk, cement, urethane expandable foam, steel wool, copper mesh, or other suitable construction sealant. Caulk around windows, doors, chimneys and fascia boards, etc. using a high quality silicone or acrylic latex caulk. Repair gaps and tears in window and door screens. Repair screens in roof and soffit vents, and in bathroom and kitchen fans. Keep siding, eaves and soffits in good repair, replacing damaged areas if necessary, to keep the exterior walls as insect-proof as possible . Physical exclusion can be supplemented with a residual insecticide barrier. For insecticides to be effective, they must be applied before insects begin to enter buildings, which is early- to mid-October for multicolored Asian beetles. Apply the insecticide according to label directions to siding, foundation, windowsills, and door thresholds, paying particular attention to the south and west sides where the insects are most common. You may wish to consider hiring a professional pest control service. Remove lady beetles found indoors with a broom or vacuum. Indoor insecticide sprays are of very limited benefit. Once lady beetles move into wall voids there is no practical control to prevent them from emerging later during winter or spring. The only control is to remove them as they are seen.
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