What if the mosquitoes are coming from my neighbor's property?
Talk first, report second. Neglected pools and dumped tires are code violations in many Collierville-area jurisdictions, and vector control agencies will often treat them. Meanwhile, a Collierville provider can spray the vegetation on your side, which is where those adults end up resting anyway.
What should I do before the provider arrives?
Do the free work first. Empty containers, tip the kiddie pool, and unclog downspouts around your Collierville house so the treatment is not fighting new larvae. Keep kids and pets indoors during the visit and until surfaces are dry, which in Collierville summer weather is usually under an hour.
How do I choose a mosquito control provider?
Look for a state pesticide applicator license, insurance, and a written plan for your Collierville property that includes inspection and larvicide, not just spraying. Ask any Collierville provider what products they use, how they protect pollinators, and what happens if bites return. Compare season totals from two or three Collierville companies before signing.
Can I get rid of mosquitoes permanently?
Not permanently, but you can make your Collierville yard far less attractive than the ones around it. Removing standing water cuts the supply; barrier spray removes arriving adults. Many Collierville homeowners find that a seasonal plan plus weekly container checks keeps the problem manageable year after year.
Will mosquito treatment kill bees and butterflies?
Barrier products are toxic to bees on contact. Good practice in Collierville is to spray shaded shrubs and undersides of leaves, not blooms, and to work in early morning or evening when bees are inactive. Larvicides like Bti do not affect bees, so that part of a Collierville program is not a concern.
Did people hire mosquito professionals because of Zika?
Mostly not, at least by intention. Context for Collierville, not a local measurement: in the 2016 survey TNS Global fielded for Mosquito Squad, only 6% of U.S. homeowners planned to book professional treatment because of Zika, compared with 34% planning repellent; the provider-sponsored poll captured intentions, not purchases, and did not report its sample size. For a property in Collierville, the next step is an inspection that identifies the source, not a guess based on national averages.
Do mosquitoes really change how people use their yards?
For a sizable minority, yes. Keep this in mind while inspecting a Collierville home: for a homeowner, the practical point is that mosquitoes disrupt real plans: 23% of U.S. homeowners in Mosquito Squad's provider-sponsored 2016 survey (TNS Global, sample undisclosed) said the insects had changed what they did the year before. Collierville homeowners comparing quotes should ask each provider which of these patterns they see locally and why.