These days you can find a hack or do-it-yourself tip for anything from repairing an automobile to making all-natural cleaning products. And pest control is no exception to the DIY craze. Enter “how to get rid of mosquitoes” or “DIY mosquito repellents” into any online search engine, and you’re likely to be bombarded with page after page of remedies and instructions.
But can you trust this advice to resolve your pest problem? Unfortunately, it’s not a great idea to DIY mosquito control. In fact, this task is best left to a trained mosquito control professional.
Check out some ways that mosquito infestations can affect your home, and the reasons you should leave treatment to a professional.
Problems That Mosquitoes Can Cause
You already know that mosquitoes can be a nuisance. There's not much that can ruin a barbecue faster than the high-pitched whine of those bloodsuckers coming in to feast on your arms and legs. Itchy welts are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to mosquitoes, though. These insects can also carry diseases, such as the Zika or West Nile viruses, as well as parasites that could make pets ill.
Effectiveness Issues When It Comes to DIY Mosquito Control
You’ve probably read a few articles on DIY mosquito control or have friends and family members who swear by their “tried-and-true” remedies. Unfortunately, the success of these mosquito methods is usually coincidental. Here’s why:
- Mosquitoes are prolific breeders that can lay up to 3,000 eggs over the span of a couple of weeks. This can make them difficult to control, especially if you’re relying on DIY mosquito repellents.
- DIY mosquito traps or other control methods might help you get rid of adult mosquitoes, but they won’t help with the thousands of eggs that could be ready to hatch at any moment.
- There is little to no scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of most DIY mosquito control methods, meaning that crossing your fingers may work just as well as citronella candles, dryer sheets, essential oils and so forth.
Does DIY Mosquito Control Actually Save You Money?
Many people turn to DIYs and home remedies because they think these methods will undercut the cost of paying for a professional mosquito control service company to treat the problem. That’s typically not the case, though. Think about this: You’ve already learned that do-it-yourself tricks usually don’t pan out. So, that means you could end up spending money on the materials for these efforts and will probably have to invest a good chunk of time in applying deterrents or setting up traps. And then when these DIY mosquito control attempts don’t work, you may have to pay a professional anyways. Wouldn’t it be easier to just call a reputable mosquito control company to start with?
Issues Associated With DIY Mosquito Control
As mentioned before, one method of mosquito control involves pesticides. It's important that these solutions are applied correctly. Otherwise, they might not work. In addition, the labels on these products can be confusing to understand and, in some areas of the United States, certain types are not labeled for use in some areas. Just because some treatments are available in one state doesn’t mean that they’re available in others, and different states may have different restrictions. Therefore, it’s a good idea to leave your mosquito problems in the hands of a mosquito control professional who has been trained on how to properly apply such treatments.
The Solution to Mosquito Infestations
DIYs can be great if you’re trying to update your kitchen or find creative ways to store your winter clothes in the off season. But when it comes to mosquito control, it’s a wise idea to contact Terminix® so that a trained technician can inspect your problem and help you customize a treatment and prevention plan.
