How much does it cost to get rid of mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are an annoying pest to have in your yard. They cause itchy bites and may carry dangerous diseases. Many homeowners, therefore, have taken to spraying their yards to keep the mosquito population down. Mosquito control services may be used on a seasonal basis or for a one-time special event. The average homeowner with a half-acre yard will spend approximately $350 from May to September on seasonal mosquito control.

Inspection

Costs and effectiveness of treatment are determined by inspection. When you hire a mosquito control specialist, their first step is to inspect your yard. This service is usually free because it helps determine the best areas to spray and which services to recommend.

During the inspection, the company looks for standing water sources, thick vegetation, and areas where mosquitoes are most likely to gather or breed. This inspection helps finalize the costs of your service. People with very large properties may only want parts of it sprayed, while others have vegetation or standing water that needs additional attention.

Seasonal service vs one-time service for special events

Most mosquito control companies offer a range of services. These include seasonal services, which can start anytime from May to August, and one-time services that are most often used for special events.

In a seasonal service, the company sprays your yard every three weeks, roughly every 21 days. This is because the lifecycle of the mosquito is approximately three weeks, so as new mosquitoes hatch, they are immediately sprayed. The earlier you start this process in the season, the more time you will spend with fewer pests on your property. It is also possible, however, to begin seasonal spraying later in the summer. People living in damp, hot climates may want to spray year-round.

Most control services also offer a one-time spray to decrease mosquitoes temporarily before a special event. For example, if you are hosting a party, you could spray a few days beforehand to ensure that fewer mosquitoes bother your guests. Keep in mind that while a one-time spray makes your yard more comfortable, the mosquitoes will return to their normal numbers within a few weeks.

Types of treatment

Just like every property is different, the exact type of treatment you receive may vary from what a friend or neighbor has done in their yard. Most control services offer several treatment options. Your yard will likely end up with a combination of any of these, depending on your needs.

• Barrier spray: This service focuses on the thick vegetation around the edges of your property. They may also spray beneath your deck and around areas that are heavily used. Costs start at around $40 per visit.
• Adulticide spray: This particular spray kills the mosquitoes currently in your yard. This is what most services do. Costs vary depending on how much spraying is done but begins at around $40.
• Larvicide spray: This spray kills the eggs that will hatch into new mosquitoes. Some companies only spray, but others also add larvicide to any standing water on the property that cannot be drained. The spray is typically done with the adulticide, but other larvicide services are extra, beginning at around $5 per area.
• Special event: In addition to spraying the barrier and treating standing water, the company typically also treats the area where your guests will be, including the grass. This service starts at around $70.

Labor

The process of treating for mosquitoes varies depending on the size of the property, type and amount of vegetation, and kind of treatment. When treating the barrier, the technician typically walks around the property, spraying the underside of vegetation, dense areas, where people will gather, and places like the underside of your deck. They also check for new sources of standing water, if necessary.

Generally, labor is priced on the size of your property and the amount you want sprayed. For a half-acre property, a typical visit is between $40 and $70. For seasonal spraying, however, costs per visit can be less. For a half-acre property with seasonal spraying from May to September, the average price for the entire season is $350.

Safety

When you have chemicals applied to parts of your yard, there is some concern for safety. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved several chemicals for spraying. Always ask which compounds are being applied to your yard and whether they are EPA-approved. The most common include pyrethrin, a naturally derived compound made from chrysanthemums, but your service may use any number of chemicals or compounds. Most are designed to breakdown safely without harming vegetation or animals. However, misapplying chemicals, such as using greater concentrations than suggested, may have adverse effects on vegetation and be toxic to children and pets. It is important to always use a licensed control service rather than attempting to apply these chemicals yourself.

Prevention

Mosquito control can be greatly helped by prevention techniques taken by homeowners. Mosquitoes breed in areas of standing water, so it is essential to make sure that any water is either emptied or replaced regularly to diminish breeding. If you have ponds or ornamental water of any kind, consider adding mosquito-eating minnows to the water to keep the population under control.

Some plants also repel mosquitoes, such as catnip or catmint. Planting catnip around the perimeter of your yard can repel mosquitoes, making control more effective.

To prevent attracting mosquitoes, consider switching to yellow deck lights in your landscaping. Traps, zappers, and candles are all considered ineffective methods of controlling or preventing mosquitoes.

Enhancement and improvement costs

Organic Treatments

Organic treatments are available, such as those containing garlic, that kill adult mosquitoes. Some control companies offer these compounds as an alternative to chemicals. They have an additional cost starting at around $5 a service.

Mosquito Window Nets

Mosquito window nets offer significant protection against mosquitoes entering open doors and windows. They cost around $12 to $15 on average and hang over existing windows or doors.

Mosquito Misting System

If mosquitoes are an ongoing problem, you may want to invest in a misting system that eliminates regular visits and offers even more control. They cost around $2,500 on average.

Mosquito Magnet Device

Mosquito magnet devices emit an odor that attracts mosquitoes. Once they enter the trap, they are contained and killed. These devices start at around $250.

Additional considerations and costs

• If you live in an area with a warm, wet climate, you will likely need year-round services, which increase costs.
• Mosquito treatments last approximately 3 weeks before needing to be repeated.
• While it is impossible to keep all mosquitoes out of your home, repairing screens and using air conditioners helps prevent them from getting inside.
• There are no standards for “all-organic” compounds, so they may not be safer than chemical treatments.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found during the 2016 Zika outbreak that mosquitoes have become resistant to many chemicals used to kill them. This may pose an issue with keeping mosquito populations down in hard-hit areas.