s/o: how bad are services like Mosquito Squad for the environment?

[Anonymous]

I live in a row house in Petworth where the mosquitoes are just terrible. To me, summer means running from the car into my house, yelling at my kids to close the door quickly, and not enjoying our backyard/deck because the mosquitoes are so bad. I've toyed with the idea of Mosquito Squad or similar service in past years, but my environmentally-minded self just feels like the chemicals are probably terrible (especially for bees, right)? Does anyone know how bad these are?

For the record, we do the normal precautions of mosquitoe dunks in drains, clean gutters, and generally remove standing water, but the number of mosquitoes is still insane.

[Anonymous]

To piggyback on your Q has anyone gotten the "natural" version and know what's in it? It's supposed to be less effective but has only essential oils etc.

[Anonymous]

It's about as bad as you can get for the environment. Many countries have banned Round Up, for good reason. In addition, there is a strong correlation between the diminishing bee population and "weed killers". Companies such as Mosquito Squad are under no obligation to tell you the truth (ethically, they should - but it usually does not happen).

Look around. One sees far fewer chemical trucks than in the past, for good reason. People need to educate themselves, especially in a geographic area that is supposed to be "educated".

http://www.glyphosate.news/2016-06-27-study-shows-honeybees-are-starving-because-of-roundup.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's about as bad as you can get for the environment. Many countries have banned Round Up, for good reason. In addition, there is a strong correlation between the diminishing bee population and "weed killers". Companies such as Mosquito Squad are under no obligation to tell you the truth (ethically, they should - but it usually does not happen).

Look around. One sees far fewer chemical trucks than in the past, for good reason. People need to educate themselves, especially in a geographic area that is supposed to be "educated".

http://www.glyphosate.news/2016-06-27-study-shows-honeybees-are-starving-because-of-roundup.html

Great. Thankfully, MS doesn't use Roundup for mozzies so we're all good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's about as bad as you can get for the environment. Many countries have banned Round Up, for good reason. In addition, there is a strong correlation between the diminishing bee population and "weed killers". Companies such as Mosquito Squad are under no obligation to tell you the truth (ethically, they should - but it usually does not happen).

Look around. One sees far fewer chemical trucks than in the past, for good reason. People need to educate themselves, especially in a geographic area that is supposed to be "educated".

http://www.glyphosate.news/2016-06-27-study-shows-honeybees-are-starving-because-of-roundup.html

you know mosquitos are not weeds, right?

[Anonymous]

Every time I consider it - I research and just say no. I have been tempted to try the natural version though especially with all the calls for the fact that mosquitoes will worse than usual this summer. We used to live in Columbia Heights - I think it's impossible to control there because you are so close together.

Here's one article from Huffington Post which yes is very liberal http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/26/private-pest-control-toxic-chemicals_n_1623966.html

Excerpt below
~~~~~~~~~~

The two pesticides are synthetic forms of molecules created naturally by chrysanthemums, a point the company spotlights in its coloring book. Both are also registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, the agency labels bifenthrin as a possible human carcinogen and is currently reviewing both chemicals due to suspicions that they could cause allergic reactions and disrupt the endocrine system, said John Wargo, an environmental health professor at Yale University.

The latter is of particular concern to Wargo. Chemicals that mimic human hormones can scramble the body’s natural signals, potentially leading to developmental disorders, sexual problems and obesity, among other health issues, he said. Recent research suggests harmful effects could even result from tiny doses.

“This is especially worrisome for pregnant women and young children during rapid periods of growth and development,” said Wargo, highlighting the danger of the persistence and reapplication of the pesticides in people’s yards.

The undisclosed ingredients that are added to help Mosquito Squad’s pesticides stick to foliage could also be harmful to people’s nervous and respiratory systems, Wargo said. What’s more, each chemical doesn’t necessarily act alone; the pair of pesticides could interact to cause additional harm. And exposures accumulate: The average person is exposed to multiple pesticides every day via food residues, indoor pesticide products and outdoor products that end up getting tracked inside, he said.

Critics also question whether pesticide sprays actually succeed in killing their intended targets, and whether they protect people from contracting bug-borne diseases.

Biologists at Cornell University point out that targeting mosquitoes with sprays only results in “temporary control” and “should only be considered as a last resort.”

“I think at best they’re somewhat effective,” said Lee Corte-Real, director of crop and pest services for the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, referring to Mosquito Squad’s spray. “Eighty to 90 percent is being very, very generous. Mosquitoes are notorious for not observing property lines.”

[Anonymous]

Unless your entire neighborhood sprays will it really make a difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless your entire neighborhood sprays will it really make a difference?

I don't live in DC, but it makes a huge difference. I'm about 1/3 of an acre. Making our property inhospitable to pests definitely drives them to other properties.

[Anonymous]

14:39 PP here - I do my own spraying. I always dread it, but it takes about 30 minutes and I only need to do it about every 6 weeks in "high" season. I live in an area of the country that does not get a hard freeze so insects are a serious problem if you don't treat for them.

I use DemonMax. For about $30 + a 2 gallon sprayer, you're set for the year. Pest spraying companies are super common here, but the price difference is just too big for me not to DIY. (I do outsource lawn and housekeeping, for comparison.)

[Anonymous]

I live in D.C and have gotten mosquito squad spray for several years and yes it does help. But this year we are trying the natural version out of environmental concerns about the other kind possibly killing bees and other beneficial creatures. I dont know the exact environmental science but it seems likely it's not good. Anyway the natural version of mosquito squad works by repelling them via smell, not killing them. I suppose it could also have environmental impacts but seems less likely. It is more expensive bc they come every 2 weeks instead of every 3, and I've heard the soray smells like garlic for a bit. If it doesn't work we may switch back to the not natural spray. It is just such a bummer to not be able to go outside in the summer without getting eaten alive.

[Anonymous]

I have only 1/5 of an acre, none of my neighbors spray, and yes, sorry it totally works. Our yard was completely unusable before. We may as well have lived in a condo. My kids don't go out the day it's sprayed, don't roll in it or go barefoot, wash hands when they come in, shower nightly etc.

It was Mosquito Authority or spray with Deet constantly.

We are still mobbed by bees and butterflies and birds (after 4 years.)

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous

We are still mobbed by bees and butterflies and birds (after 4 years.)

Please, don't pretend like you aren't harming bees and butterflies. Bees and butterflies are insects. Pyrethrin will kill them. They just fly farther than mosquitos so these bees and butterflies flew miles and miles and then landed in your yard and will die off shortly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We are still mobbed by bees and butterflies and birds (after 4 years.)

Please, don't pretend like you aren't harming bees and butterflies. Bees and butterflies are insects. Pyrethrin will kill them. They just fly farther than mosquitos so these bees and butterflies flew miles and miles and then landed in your yard and will die off shortly.

eta: fixed the formatting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We are still mobbed by bees and butterflies and birds (after 4 years.)

Please, don't pretend like you aren't harming bees and butterflies. Bees and butterflies are insects. Pyrethrin will kill them. They just fly farther than mosquitos so these bees and butterflies flew miles and miles and then landed in your yard and will die off shortly.

eta: fixed the formatting

If that's true they are procreating at an alarming rate before they die. And they are leaving their dead carcasses elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

There is no such thing as a "natural" pesticide. The mosquito sprayings kill ALL the beneficial insects:
https://www.uaex.edu/publications/PDF/ag1165.pdf

There are many scientific sources on this. Yet we don't plant native plants, we don't have proper storm water waste systems, we don't require LED building practices, we don't have green roofs or solar panels. We pave over the size of Rock Creek Park EVERY YEAR in the DMV:
https://www.citylab.com/environment/2016/03/washington-dc-development-stormwater-runoff-impervious-surfaces/475950/

And yet, we expect to have warm weather mosquito free? The tiger mosquito is invasive and very hard to kill. People have been spraying it for decades. So, OP, what do you expect to change?