How Effective is Community Spraying for Pests

This page is a general article that discusses the effectiveness of community spraying in neighborhoods. By following the products and methods suggested in this DIY guide you can learn when and if pesticide spraying is necessary after community spraying.

With the rise of disease outbreaks or pest activity like mosquitoes, your city or neighborhood ordinance may begin to spray insecticides around the area. Generally, most community spraying is done with small amounts of adulticide insecticide products into the air as a fine mist by a licensed applicator truck or by foot with a type of fogging device. To prevent future nuisance pests, they may also treat standing water sources such as neighborhood ponds with a larvicide product.

The effectiveness of community spraying depends on a variety of factors that include: what type of mosquitoes are present (adult, larvae), chemicals used, when and how pesticide products are applied, current weather conditions, and the density of lawns and closeness of homes in community. Community spraying does guarantee temporary control of pest populations, but not complete. One of the reasons for this is due to community spraying making applications only when pest populations are high and not during periods of breeding activity. 

Most homeowners assume that one application of community spraying solves all of their pest problems. Unfortunately, while community spraying does help there is still pest management tasks needed on your end to ensure complete control. The following DIY guide will help to provide professional advice and pest control through our quality products and recommended steps.

What to Do Before Community Spraying

Maximum pest control depends on the areas being treated and conditions allowing the pest to thrive. Failure to address these conditions may result in ineffective pesticide applications.

The first thing to do before community spraying as well as integrated pest management is to eliminate suitable pest conditions: mowing turf when it reaches a height of 3 inches, trimming overgrow foliage and branches, raking leaves with a rake, stacking wood piles several feet from home, repairing leaky faucets and other moisture conditions, and eliminating standing water sources such as overturning birdbaths and objects collecting water.

It may be best to stay inside and close windows and doors during applications. With any pesticide applications it is best to keep all individuals, children, and pets off the treatment area until sprays have dried or when 48 hours have passed.

When proceeding with any type of inspection and pesticide application the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required.

Pests Active After Community Spraying

There are several reasons why you might see pests after community spraying in your neighborhood. The most common reason is that the mist from the pesticide truck or fogger cannot reach all surfaces within your yard.

The pests you are witnessing in your property could be the ones that were most active during the time of application, but did not come into contact with the product material. Pests like mosquitoes hide on the underside of tall grass blades or leaves until they are ready to feast or other pests like cockroaches hide in dark, shaded areas such as underneath woodpiles.

For this reason, we recommend eliminating all suitable habitat sources then applying a broad-spectrum residual insecticide like Supreme IT. This liquid formulated product can easily be applied to residential lawns and around the structure of homes to eliminate 70 different types of pests for up to 90 days. Other pesticide products such as Martin's IGR Insecticide and BTI Mosquito Dunks will also be needed for controlling the larvae stages of pests. 

You will need to eliminate any standing water sources collecting in your yard by dumping water from bird baths, rain gutters, and other objects. Larger bodies of water that cannot be removed like water fountains, lagoons, retention or decorative ponds can be treated with BTI Mosquito Dunks. Apply 1 dunk from BTI Mosquito Dunk between 25 to 100 sq. ft. of surface water.

After this, make a perimeter application along the exterior foundation of your home with only Supreme IT. The perimeter application will use 1 oz. of Supreme IT per gallon of water per 1,000 sq. ft. for a general pest treatment. Spray at a maximum height of 3 feet and 6 to 10 feet from the structure.

Once this has been done, you can then mix Supreme IT and Tekko Pro IGR together in a handheld pump sprayer or backpack sprayer. Mix 1 oz. of Supreme IT and 0.67 fl. oz. of Martin's IGR Insecticide per 1,000 sq. ft. of turf and ornamentals. Spray the top and bottom of leaves until wet, but not to the point of run-off. Retreat treatment areas when 90 days have passed after first application.

To prepare the solution you will need to fill your selected sprayer halfway with water, add the measured amount of products being used, then pour in the remaining half of water. Close the tank lid and shake until solution is well-mixed before spraying. 

Key Takeaways

Who Performs Community Spraying

• Community Spraying is performed by licensed pesticide applicators employed by your residential neighborhood. Applications throughout your regions urban areas and neighborhoods are most often done by licensed pesticide applicators approved by the city.

When is Community Spraying Done?

• Decisions about community spraying are made when the city and local health department deem that insect populations and disease activity is high. Depending on your region, applications could be done at day or at night.

Precautions to Take During and After Community Spraying

• You can reduce your exposure to the insecticide by remaining indoors during applications and keeping off your lawn for at least 48 hours after application.