Frequently Asked Questions: Mosquito and Tick Control Edition
Unfortunately, mosquitoes and ticks are an inevitable part of life in New England. Fortunately, we've had over 40 years of experience keeping mosquito and tick populations in check throughout Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire.
We understand the importance of making informed decisions about pest prevention for your property, especially when people and pets frequent backyards. Whether you're looking for more information after a recent service from Pest-End or researching a mosquito and tick control solution that's right for your yard, we're here to help!
Pest-End offers a variety of mosquito and tick control options to accommodate varying pest pressure levels and homeowners' preferences. Our YardShield series empowers our customers to choose a level of protection that fits their yard and lifestyle, with five distinct options for keeping mosquitoes and ticks in check.
Featuring real questions from our YardShield customers across the region, check out our mosquito and tick FAQs below to learn more about the pests and the solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mosquito and Tick Control
Q: Does YardShield treat both mosquitoes and ticks?
A: Our YardShield series includes various program levels to control only ticks or ticks and mosquitoes. Our most popular YardShield program, the YardShield Pro, provides both mosquito and tick control.
Q: Can a YardShield program completely eradicate mosquitoes and ticks on my property?
A: The simple answer is: no. However, our customers can expect a 70-90% population knockdown.
Q: How safe are the ingredients used in your programs?
A: The products used in YardShield programs are categorized similarly to everyday household cleaning products like Windex and Bleach. Application techniques and properly trained service technicians are most critical to significantly minimizing risk.
Q: Are treatments safe for children and pets?
A: Our number one priority at Pest-End is, of course, to provide effective services. However, we will not waiver on providing safe services with negligible environmental impact—to keep you, your family, your pets, and your backyard's ecosystem safe! Our products are formulated to specifically target and control ticks and mosquitoes while keeping other insects, essential pollinators, and wildlife on your property safe from harm with the proper application methods from our trained service technicians.
Q: Will the treatments affect other insects or pollinators around our property?
A: Technician training and proper application are essential in keeping pollinators and other beneficial insects safe. We go one step further and train our service technicians to identify and avoid flowering foliage to help prevent the knockdown of essential pollinators!
Q: Are organic options as effective as conventional ones?
A: We recommend conventional treatments to gain the most effective mosquito and tick control on your property. Natural products do not achieve as strong a level of control as conventional ones. Because of this, our organic program has a higher service frequency to gain the best control possible.
Q: What are the benefits of choosing conventional over organic control?
A: The service frequency must be more frequent, making the seasonal program more expensive. With conventional control, the products provide longer-lasting control.
Q: Do conventional products work as a repellent for mosquitoes?
A: No, the product works as a transfer product. Mosquitoes land on treated foliage, exposing them to the product. Suppose there is heavy activity around a fireplace, deck, or other property areas. The service technician will also treat the hot spot areas in that case.
Q: A lawn care company quoted me cheaper for mosquito and tick control. Why would I pay more to go with a pest control company?
A: Lawn care companies typically advertise tick and mosquito control services. Still, these treatments use lawn care products that are not necessarily specific to pest control. Ultimately, these products provide different effective, long-term results than those we carry for tick and mosquito control.
Q: Why can't I get one treatment in June or July when mosquitoes are at their worst?
A: When treating both ticks and mosquitoes effectively, we created our YardShield service with multiple treatments throughout the season for the most effective results. The life cycles of these pests don't begin when you first see them on your property each season. Our multiple-service programs enable us to treat them before they arrive at your property—so you can achieve better, more effective control of pests over a more extended period.
Q: Does anyone need to be home during the treatment?
A: Nobody needs to be present for service. However, we ask that any locked gates or entrances to the backyard be left open so service technicians can easily access treatment areas.
Q: Do you treat the lawn?
A: No. Service areas are primarily on the property's perimeter, creating a protective barrier around your yard.
Q: How long do people and pets need to stay away from treated areas?
A: We tell our customers to avoid treated areas until they dry, which can take up to 2 hours but is much quicker on a hot, sunny day.
Q: Do my windows need to shut during service? What happens if I leave my windows open during service?
A: We ask that customers close windows and shut off all window-mount AC units. Central air may remain on. However, our technicians are trained to avoid treating close to any AC unit or open window. It should not be an issue if a unit is accidentally left on or a window is left open!
Q: Do you treat around pools?
A: Our technicians are trained to treat only the foliage that the product is intended for. When it comes to swimming pools, our technicians are trained to treat with their back to the pool and be very cautious of wind drift to avoid any contact between the pool and treatment products.
Frequently Asked Questions Following Service
Q: Why did my first treatment in the spring take less time than my treatments last summer?
A: Our first treatment will typically come between April and early May. During this season, there is less treatable foliage on properties than when vegetation is in full bloom later in the year. Although there is less treatable foliage early in the season, it is still important to begin treating both ticks and mosquitoes in the spring to disrupt their life cycle as early as possible.
Q: Why was today's product different from the product used for our last treatment?
A: We cycle and use multiple products for best results with both tick and mosquito control. Ticks and mosquitoes will build up a tolerance to certain products. Hence, rotating products allows us to gain consistent control over time!
Q: It rained after my treatment session. Does that harm the treatment? Do I need a retreat?
A: For treatments to be effective, the product only needs to dry on treated foliage. If it rains after the product dries, the treatment's effectiveness will not be impacted.
Q: What if I still see mosquitoes and ticks after my service? How long does it take for the service to work?
A: Mosquito control is a reduction service and not an eradication service. They are a common flying insect, and it is impossible to eradicate them from your property completely. That said, it can take 24-48 hours before the most substantial results from our treatments are seen. We need the product to settle and transfer to the targeted insects before the best results appear.
Q: How can I help reduce mosquito and tick populations between services?
A: Keeping gutters free-flowing and eliminating any open containers that hold standing water on your property can significantly help reduce the number of local mosquitoes. Ticks can be difficult to target, but keeping the grass cut short in your backyard can help to reduce populations.
Shield Your Yard Against Mosquitoes and Ticks
April through June are critical times of the year to start reducing mosquito and tick populations in anticipation of the summer and even into the fall. We'll be able to target these pests when their numbers are lower—and keep them from becoming a more significant, unignorable problem on your property when it matters most.
To enjoy your yard worry-free this summer, get in touch to learn more about YardShield protection for homes and receive a free quote.
