What is the difference between larvicide and barrier spray?
Larvicide turns off the tap; barrier spray mops the floor. Around Galveston, the tap is standing water, treated with Bti or methoprene that stops development. The mop is a residual pyrethroid misted onto shrubs and shaded surfaces where adults rest during a Galveston afternoon.
What does a mosquito inspection involve?
It is mostly looking down and looking under. Good inspectors in Galveston check corrugated drain pipes, gutter elbows, AC drip lines, sump pits, and the neighbor's side of the fence. They should hand you a short written summary before any treatment on your Galveston property begins.
How do I choose a mosquito control provider?
Licensing and a real inspection are the two markers. Providers serving Galveston should be licensed in Texas, carry liability insurance, and be willing to walk the property before quoting. Read recent reviews for comments about return visits, since responsiveness between treatments matters more than the first spray in Galveston.
Are misting systems worth it?
For a Galveston home with a large outdoor living area and a big budget, sometimes. They cost thousands to install and need refills, and they spray on a timer whether mosquitoes are present around your Galveston patio or not. Most Galveston providers suggest trying a seasonal barrier plan first.
What are In2Care stations and do they work?
They are lure-baited water containers that attract egg-laying females. The female picks up a larvicide she carries to other water on a Galveston property and a fungus that kills her within days. Providers around Galveston use them on container-heavy lots, serviced about monthly.
Did people hire mosquito professionals because of Zika?
Mostly not, at least by intention. The national picture, which Galveston has no reason to escape: 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. In Galveston, ask providers to put the number of visits and any re-treatment terms in writing before work begins.
Do most people use mosquito repellent in their own yard?
About half do, at least occasionally. What the research adds for Galveston: personal repellent protects the person, not the property, which is why it pairs with yard work rather than replacing it: 49% of U.S. homeowners in Mosquito Squad's provider-sponsored 2016 survey (TNS Global, sample undisclosed) said they had used it outdoors. For a property in Galveston, the next step is an inspection that identifies the source, not a guess based on national averages.