Why Pro Mosquito & Tick Control Matters

Why Professional Mosquito and Tick Control Is Essential in Coastal Virginia

There is a long stretch of the Wright Brothers biography by David McCullough where the brothers describe their sheer fear of coastal mosquitoes. They were flying in the air in a machine of their own making long before ORF or PHF were around. You know the mosquitoes were bad if they were complaining about that in their letters (“blinding,” “unbearable”).

Granted, this took place on the Outer Banks, but the Hampton Roads has the problem just as bad. And that’s because the geography is nearly identical.

Once you understand why mosquitoes are as bad as they are here, it explains why the DIY approach that might work in the Piedmont or the Valley doesn't come close to cutting it on the coast.

Mosquitoes Prefer the Local Geography

Hampton Roads is right at the intersection of the Chesapeake Bay, multiple tidal rivers, and miles upon miles of salt marsh. If you were a mosquito and you could choose your “spawn point,” you’d have a very hard time finding a better one than here.

Salt marsh mosquitoes are particularly nasty here. They’re aggressive biters, they're active during the day (not just dusk), and they can fly up to 10 miles or more from breeding grounds. That means you can have an immaculate property, only to find yourself swatting at mosquitoes that came from some marsh you don’t know the name of miles away.

Tidal flooding is another part of the problem as well. Every tidal cycle and coastal storm leaves standing water in low-lying areas across the region. That standing water is the perfect habitat for mosquitoes to breed, and they start doing that immediately. Fresh mosquitoes simply never stop coming. The supply is perpetual.

DIY Mosquito Control Only Goes So Far in the Hampton Roads

Eliminating standing water on your property is still worth doing. This is the foundation of any mosquito control plan. But in coastal Virginia, the external breeding sources are so large and so productive that property-level water management only addresses a fraction of the problem.

Citronella candles, tiki torches, and personal repellents all have a role, but their effective range is measured in inches or on individual skin. You need a way to control the population, not just the particular mosquitoes bugging you today.

What Professional Treatment Does Differently

A barrier treatment targets mosquitoes where they rest—vegetation and shaded areas. The product is EPA-registered and can reduce populations by up to 90% for 21 days at a time.

Barrier treatments are also regularly reapplied. At Mosquito Squad, we do this every 21 days because mosquitoes regroup fast. Consistent treatment takes away their chance to regroup.

Bear in mind here as well that Hampton Roads has all three major tick species: Lone Star ticks, deer ticks, and dog ticks. The warm, humid coastal climate keeps them active through a longer season than inland areas.

There are serious health risks that come with being bitten. West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are mosquito-borne concerns in the region. Lyme disease and Alpha-gal syndrome are tick-borne risks that have been increasing across Virginia. Professional tick control reduces your family's exposure to all of them.

Looking for Professional Hampton Roads Pest Control Near You?

Coastal Virginia’s pest problems can be intense. And you can’t do anything about the geography that gives rise to them. But you can change how your property handles it.

Professional treatment from Mosquito Squad of Hampton Roads addresses the population at the source, on a recurring schedule that matches the speed at which coastal mosquitoes replenish. Every service is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Living in coastal Virginia and battling relentless mosquitoes and ticks? Call Mosquito Squad of Hampton Roads at (757) 300-1839 or contact us online for a free quote.