Thoughts On A Mosquito Control Service

Q: Several of my neighbors use a mosquito control service during the summer months. What are your thoughts on this control measure and the effects on nature as a whole. 

A: This is tough for me to answer because every situation is different. I am concerned that mosquito spraying can kill beneficial insects but I also realize that mosquitoes carry various diseases that we certainly don’t want to get. I have a friend who believes she lost a $300 investment in her beekeeping hobby because her neighbors sprayed for mosquitoes on breezy days.

I am totally opposed to permanently installed mosquito spraying systems because they are not under the day-to-day control of someone who can judge whether their operation at a particular time could affect pollinators.

But if you have done the common prevention techniques like draining gutters, old tires, planters etc. and if you keep nearby groundcovers like ivy and pachysandra mowed low, I can reluctantly support spraying. But this assumes your pesticide company only sprays on calm days and directs the spray only into mosquito habitat.