Tick & Mosquito Control
Safeguard Your Yard
Send those ticks and mosquitos packing. Both of these very common yard nuisances carry harmful diseases. Never mind the ick and itch! Protect your family and pets from these little buggers.
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Below are some examples of what can be done to help shield your family.
Schedule an inspection by submitting our form or calling (207) 502-5639.
Tick Control
More than 300,000 cases of Lyme disease, along with other deadly tick-borne illnesses, are reported to the CDC every year. Maine is home to 15 species of ticks, with two of the primary ticks being the Deer Tick and the American Dog Tick. Proper steps can be taken to help manage tick encounters, starting with personal protection.
Personal Protection
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Avoid areas heavily populated by ticks, including tall grass, brush areas, and leaf litter. Avoid brushing up against vegetation, as ticks are hitchhikers, not jumpers.
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Wear light-colored, long-sleeve clothing and pants, so they can be easily spotted.
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Use tick repellents containing DEET for exposed skin. On clothing, use permethrin-based products, such as Sawyer products. Always read the labels when using personal protection products.
Landscape Management
Landscape management can be a very effective way to help control the tick population on your land. Ticks thrive in cool, shady areas with moisture. To control this, start by removing leaf cover, debris, firewood, and standing water. Mowing lawns regularly to keep grass short, mulching leaves into small fragments, or removing them for composting helps reduce tick habitat. Pruning trees and bushes to allow more sunlight helps dry out areas and manage the environment. Removing plants like Japanese Barberry and Honeysuckle helps by eliminating habitats for rodents like mice and chipmunks, which are primary hosts for ticks.
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Chemical Control
This method is best suited for the nymph stage (the most commonly transmitted Lyme disease stage) but is also effective against adult ticks. Fogging and spraying the perimeter, stone walls, and trees are very effective means of tick management. Rodent boxes are another effective way to control tick populations by targeting the primary hosts, such as the white-footed mouse and chipmunks. This is done by attracting the rodent into a contained box with chemicals lightly brushed onto the rodent, killing ticks and preventing them from attaching for a period of time, without harming the rodent. This method is highly effective for long-term management.
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Schedule an inspection by submitting our form or calling (207) 502-5639.
Mosquito Control
There are roughly 40 different mosquito species, with about half of those species known to bite humans. Some mosquitoes carry common diseases such as EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) and West Nile Virus. All mosquitoes pass through four stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Eggs are laid either in or near water or in moist depressions that fill with water during spring or flood times. Personal protection, site modification, and chemical control are methods used to help control mosquito population.
Personal Protection
Clothing is key to personal protection. Wear long-sleeve shirts, long pants, gloves, high boots, and even veil netting around your head if necessary. A number of products are available in various forms, such as pressurized sprays, creams, sticks, or liquid formulations. These can be applied to exposed parts of the body. A few drops applied to the neck, face, hands, and arms, or sprayed onto thin clothing items such as stockings, can repel mosquitoes for periods of 2 hours or more. Do not overuse repellents, especially on young children, particularly those containing DEET. Always read the labels and use accordingly.
Landscape Management
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Remove all standing water and materials that can hold water, such as buckets, pools, and kids' toys.
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Keep trash bin lids closed to prevent water from accumulating at the bottom of the containers.
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Ensure gutters and downspouts are clean and free of debris.
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Eliminate adult mosquito rearing areas by removing dense brush and vegetation and by keeping grass mowed low.
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Add containers of plants that repel mosquito such as: citronella, lemon balm, lemongrass, mint, lavender, basil, and rosemary.
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Chemical Control
This method involves using various chemicals at different stages, ranging from organic to strong chemical products. Spraying the perimeter of the property is the most effective control method, focusing chemical coverage in shaded areas and leaf cover. We use both gas-powered and battery-powered foggers/misters to spray the chemicals in the areas needing treatment.