Once applied, a professional barrier treatment is effective for about 21 days. After that, the active ingredient has degraded enough that mosquito activity begins to return and it’s time to treat again.
If you are investing in mosquito control, you quite naturally want to know what you can expect in return. How long will the treatment hold? And how long will it take for the mosquitoes to come back?
The product used to treat for mosquitoes binds to vegetation. That includes leaves, stems, ground cover, and other surfaces where mosquitoes rest during the day. When mosquitoes contact these treated surfaces, they are knocked down. And the residual effect left behind from the treatment is what makes it different from sprays that wear off in a few hours.
Over the first two weeks, the treatment is working at full strength. Most homeowners see mosquito activity drop dramatically within 24 hours. That relief then holds steady through the first 14 days. During the third week, the active ingredient continues to degrade from UV exposure, moisture, and heat. It’s at this time that you may notice a gradual uptick in mosquito activity.
Several factors can affect how long treatment stays effective on your property. Heavy, sustained rain can cause it to break down faster, as can extended periods of extreme heat and direct sunlight. The opposite is also true, and properties with dense canopy tend to hold treatments slightly longer.
In Metro Detroit, where summer weather alternates between hot sun and afternoon thunderstorms, the schedule is designed to keep protection consistent rather than letting it last. This also lets you benefit from a cumulative effect. Each treatment doesn’t start from scratch, rather building on the previous one and never letting mosquitoes have a chance to regroup.
If you're tired of dealing with mosquitoes on your Metro Detroit property, Mosquito Squad of Metro Detroit can help. Mosquito Squad schedules treatments every 21 days to keep the barrier fresh and mosquito populations suppressed all season.
