Adulticides

Adulticiding is the method of mosquito control most visible to the public. Adulticiding kills flying adult mosquitoes when droplets strike them. While only a temporary form of control, this method can be very effective and economical with proper timing. Optimum spraying times are when the following conditions occur:

• Mosquitoes are very active.
• Temperature is 60 to 85 degrees.
• Wind speed is less than 5 MPH.
• Begin spraying no earlier than shortly before sunset and end by midnight. Spraying in the early morning, starting at sunrise, can also be an option but the window of opportunity is short. Spraying from 7am to dusk is usually ineffective because mosquitoes have retreated to protected harborages, such as dense vegetation, canopied areas like parks, or sewers and culverts. One exception is in parks where tree canopies can limit sunlight and lower wind speeds.

Products used in ULV applications for adult mosquito control should be the safest available, leave the lowest amount of residual possible and be non-corrosive, nonabrasive materials that are specifically labeled for the intended application. Use of other materials that may be more toxic and/or abrasive can increase human exposure concerns or shorten the life of your equipment. We recommend the following for mosquitoes and flies in recreational or residential areas:

Natural Pyrethrin - An extract from dried chrysanthemum flowers, this product has been utilized against insects for over a century. It has no long-term effects on ecosystems, is non-carcinogenic, breaks down in sunlight and has an established tolerance on food crops. It has a slight “peppery” odor that is non-offensive, which can be used to detect its presence.

Permethrin - This product is a synthetic pyrethroid that has been manufactured in an attempt to mirror the qualities of Natural Pyrethrin. Unfortunately, it must be applied at a minimum of 100 feet from water. However, unlike many products, Permethrin is labeled for barrier spraying.

Both of the aforementioned recommended products have “synergized” active ingredients to reduce the mosquitoes’ ability to develop resistance. Unlike most insecticides, they have desirable properties including: they are non corrosive, have low odor, quick knockdown and low mammalian toxicity. Both products can be applied by air or ground in a ULV machine or fogger. Please contact us so that we can recommend these or other insecticides, based on your specific situation.

REMEMBER, WHEN CHOOSING AN ADULTICIDE, LOOK AT THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT, PERCENTAGE OF ACTIVE INGREDIENT AND FORMULATION (CONCENTRATE OR READY TO USE)! THE LOWEST PRICE IS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST. ALSO, BEWARE OF UNDER DOSING, WHICH WILL ONLY KILL THE WEAKER MOSQUITOES AND CAN CAUSE RESISTANCE IN FUTURE MOSQUITO POPULATIONS.

MUG-A-BUG  -  254 South U.S. Route 51  -  Forsyth, IL 62535

Phone (217) 875-3303  -  Fax (217) 875-5054  -  info@mugabugmosquito.com

Site Last Updated: 9/1/2009