When mosquitoes are active, it’s a good idea to have barrier treatments done every 2–3 weeks. This keeps the treatment fresh and prevents the mosquito population from rebuilding between treatments.
You might wonder: “Why is mosquito control not a once-a-year service?” It’s a good question, and worth discussing because treatments, ultimately, need to work around mosquito biology and the natural life cycle of the product.
Professional barrier treatments stay active for about 21 days at a time. During that window, mosquitoes contact treated vegetation and are knocked down. After three weeks pass, the treatment becomes less effective and mosquito activity starts to climb back up again. Re-treating at the three-week mark resets the clock before mosquito populations spiral out of control.
When mosquitoes lay eggs, they can lay 100–200 at a time. Those eggs then go on to reach adulthood in just 7–14 days. If you wait four or five weeks between treatment, surviving mosquitoes can enjoy an entire breeding cycle between the first treatment wearing off and the second treatment being applied. You lose some of the cumulative impact of mosquito control applied so far in the season.
In Metro Detroit, the active season runs from roughly late April through October. That translates to about 8–10 treatments across a full season. Starting in spring and keeping up a schedule through fall is the best way to ensure consistent suppression of mosquito populations.
Of all the treatments, the earliest and latest ones in the season are the most tempting to skip. In early May, the problem doesn’t feel urgent because the population is small. But treatment helps it stay that way. In October, it’s tempting to just wait for the first frost to take care of the problem, but treatment can reduce the amount of adult mosquitoes that overwinter, meaning you have less of a mosquito problem in the spring to follow.
If you're tired of dealing with mosquitoes on your Metro Detroit property, Mosquito Squad of Metro Detroit can help. Mosquito Squad builds a seasonal treatment schedule with visits every 21 days, timed to maintain consistent suppression from the first warm weeks through the last mosquitoes of fall.
