Mosquitoes are not only pesky, but they can carry disease, too. If mosquitoes are a problem in your yard, you might consider foggers. These products have their own benefits and costs. Before using a mosquito misting system installed or employing an outside fogger, consider the types of chemicals used, their safety and effectiveness. For many, a mosquito home fogger is a good alternative, but others may get better results using more conventional approaches or avoiding mosquito bites.
Setup
Foggers or misting systems frequently require elaborate equipment installations. Professional installation of these systems, which includes tubing and nozzles organized around your yard’s perimeter, is required. The tubes are fed by a reservoir of insecticide that’s meant to kill adult mosquitoes that fly during your yard. A timer turns on the program to publish the insecticide at regular intervals.
Best Use
The North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension support notes that outdoor fogging system don’t keep mosquitoes at bay for more than a few hours. In case the wind picks up or it rains, the insecticide in the atmosphere can dissipate in less time. Once the insecticide is gone, the mosquitoes will likely come back to your yard. For the best results via an outside fogger, the University of California, Davis, Integrated Pest Management Program recommends using the fogger a couple of hours before an outside event but relying on other choices for long-term mosquito management.
Problems
The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) takes issue with home mosquito misting systems for many reasons. The organization notes that the use of insecticides could be excessive because the systems are often on timers and don’t come on in reaction to elevated numbers of mosquitoes. This excessive use of insecticides can promote resistance to these chemicals in insects. The AMCA also notes that there does not seem to be decent scientific evidence that these systems function.
Special Precautions
In case you have a butterfly garden, an outdoor mosquito fogger isn’t a good notions. The chemicals used not only kill mosquitoes, but they could also harm butterflies. The insecticides sprayed out by outside mosquito foggers can also harm other beneficial insects in your garden.
Alternatives
Before you have a fogging system installed, make alterations to your yard to eliminate breeding sites for mosquitoes. In case you have any standing water in your yard, like bird baths or low spots, remove the water. In case you have a bird bath or gutters, make sure to wash them frequently to eliminate any mosquito eggs that might have been laid in the water. Preventing mosquitoes from laying eggs by removing stagnant water resources have become the most effective way of preventing mosquitoes in your yard for a long-term foundation, according to the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.