A typical barrier treatment works for about 21 days at a time. The product bonds to vegetation and surfaces when it dries and continues to knock down mosquitoes on contact throughout that period. But treatments break down in the sun and rain over time, so they need to be regularly reapplied to keep working.
You may wonder why mosquito treatment cannot be done a single time each year. That’s a sensible question to have and the answer can be found in ecology. Mosquito treatments work because they control mosquitoes on a population level.
Mosquitoes are not affected when flying around. Barrier treatments work when they land. Mosquitoes tend to do this in heavy vegetation, dense shrubs, and under shaded areas. These are the places where they can hide from the heat and humidity of the day. When a mosquito lands on treated surfaces, it is knocked down and can no longer reproduce.
Open, sunny properties with less vegetation may need slightly more frequent treatment. Shadier ones protected from sun and rain may need slightly less frequent treatment. But either way, 21 days is a good expectation to have in mind.
Not every mosquito will land on treated surfaces. Treatment can help reduce the population by up to 90% at a time, which is enough to make a huge difference in your daily living. But once the treatment wears off, the survivors will have a chance to repopulate and other mosquitoes will fly in from other properties. These are some of the major reasons why regular re-treatment is necessary throughout the season.
If you're interested in consistent mosquito control for your Rhode Island property, Mosquito Squad of Rhode Island can help. Mosquito Squad provides barrier treatments every 21 days, so you can keep your mosquito suppression consistent from spring through fall.
