What should I do before the provider arrives?
Mow, pick up toys and cushions, and open gates so the crew can reach every side of your Rome home. Note where you get bitten most and any water you found. That information helps a Rome provider spend time where it counts.
Can mosquito control help with West Nile risk?
Property-level control reduces exposure but does not eliminate it. The bigger lever for Rome is community-wide larviciding by local vector control, which many counties run. At home, Rome residents should pair yard treatment with repellent, screens, and avoiding dusk outdoors during a local West Nile alert.
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 Rome-area jurisdictions, and vector control agencies will often treat them. Meanwhile, a Rome provider can spray the vegetation on your side, which is where those adults end up resting anyway.
How do I choose a mosquito control provider?
Look for a state pesticide applicator license, insurance, and a written plan for your Rome property that includes inspection and larvicide, not just spraying. Ask any Rome provider what products they use, how they protect pollinators, and what happens if bites return. Compare season totals from two or three Rome companies before signing.
What does a mosquito inspection involve?
A walk of the full Rome property looking for water: gutters, drains, containers, low spots, tree holes, and anything under a tarp. The inspector also notes resting cover like ivy and dense shrubs. You should get a list of sites to fix and a plan for the ones a Rome provider will treat.
Did most people change anything because of Zika?
Nearly half did not. A number that shapes expectations in Rome as much as anywhere: in the 2016 survey TNS Global conducted for Mosquito Squad, nearly half of U.S. homeowners (46%) reported no change in plans after Zika coverage, outnumbering those planning repellent, do-it-yourself work or professional treatment; the company-sponsored poll did not publish its sample size. Local conditions in Rome, Georgia can differ from the survey population, so confirm the specifics with an on-site inspection.
Did people hire mosquito professionals because of Zika?
Mostly not, at least by intention. Keep this in mind while inspecting a Rome home: 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. If you are in Rome, use this as a starting point for questions rather than a prediction for your home.