Category: MOSQUITO CONTROL

 

Mosquitoes are always an irritating nuisance. This year, however, there is a more serious concern: the Zika virus, which experts believe is linked to microcephaly, a serious birth defect. After cases were identified in Florida, Gov. Rick Scott declared a health emergency.

Although all Florida cases so far are believed to have been contracted by people traveling outside the U.S., residents need to prepare themselves, says an online report from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The transmission from mosquito to person could happen any time. “We should remain vigilant and informed,” cautions Jorge Rey, interim director of the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach.

Zika was discovered in 1947 in Africa. Named after the Zika Forest in Uganda, the word means “overgrown” in Luganda, the major language spoken in that country. Although there are 200 species of mosquitoes in the U.S., Zika is thought to be transmitted by just one: the Aedes Aegypti. Zika is not, of course, the only illness carried by mosquitoes. Among others, the bloodsuckers also transmit dengue fever and West Nile virus, as well as heartworm in dogs and equine encephalitis. What can South Floridians do to protect their homes and yards?

Early Concerns

Chalmers Vasquez, operations manager for mosquito control in Miami-Dade County, said his department has received a spike in complaints about mosquitoes in the wake of the news about Zika. Typically, that doesn’t happen until closer to summer. “It’s very unusual at this time of year,” he said.

Lifecycle Is All Wet

The lifecycle of mosquitoes has four stages: the egg, which the female lays in water; the larva or wriggler, which lives in the water but surfaces to breathe air; the pupa or tumbler, which also lives in the water; and the adult mosquito, which emerges after the pupal case splits. To begin the cycle again, the female mosquito will require a meal of blood before she goes off to lay her eggs.

Dry It Out

The common denominator in the mosquito’s development: water. One of the most important things homeowners can do to protect themselves is to get rid of or empty any containers that might hold standing water. “That’s where they breed,” Vasquez said.

The creatures can lay eggs in old tires, children’s toys, ground depressions, rocks, clogged roof gutters, potted plant saucers, and even flowers such as bromeliads. Pet dishes, birdbaths and kiddie pools, which a homeowner may not want to empty, should be changed often. Also, create structural barriers, advises the Environmental Protection Agency’s website. Cover all gaps in walls, doors and windows. Door and window screens should be “bug tight.”

Other Protection

Staying indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active, is a good idea, Vasquez said. Wearing longsleeved shirts and long pants can also help protect against mosquitoes. The insects hunt their prey by detecting chemicals in breath and sweat, so frequent bathing may be a good idea. Some also like the smells of perfumes, so avoid using them outdoors.

The most effective repellents applied to skin are those containing high concentrations of DEET, a chemical that jams the sensors of mosquitoes and confuses them. Follow label directions carefully, especially with children, advises Dr. John Pipoly, Broward County Extension Agent for Urban Horticulture. He himself uses a natural repellent, lemon eucalyptus. Yes, it does work, he maintains. “Most people don’t use enough of it.”

Pipoly advises homeowners against spraying their yards. “Ninety-nine percent of people don’t know what to use, and they use the wrong things,” he said. “There are a lot of beneficial bugs out there.”

Outdoor Misting Systems

For protection that happens automatically, an outdoor misting system may be the answer. More people are investing in these timed-release mosquito control systems, says the EPA’s website. A mister sprays insecticide through nozzles mounted in the lawn or landscaping around the perimeter of a home. “It’s almost like a sprinkler system,” said Steve Jenkins, owner of Miramar-based SWAT Mosquito Systems®️.

Nozzles are set every eight to 10 feet, Jenkins said. Usually, a system is programmed on a timer to go off at sunrise and sunset, when mosquitoes are most active. “It will mist two to four time a day for about 30 seconds at a time,” he said. “The bigger the perimeter you set up, the less likely you are to get a mosquito coming from a neighbor’s yard.”

The insecticide SWAT uses is pyrethrin-based, a substance that occurs naturally in chrysanthemums. The toxicity lasts about 30 minutes. The product is safe for mammals and birds, Jenkins said. It can be toxic to fish, however, so nozzles are kept a minimum of 10 feet away from ponds. The cost: about $3,500 to $4,500 for an average-size lot.

 

 

When Steve Jenkins wanted to find a way to keep his newborn son safe from the dangers of insect bites, he became a man with a mission. Now, his company, SWAT Mosquito Systems®️, takes the sting permanently out of mosquito season in South Florida with a proprietary system that is custom designed for each client’s home or business.

“It’s really important to be able to enjoy the outdoors around your home or workplace without the fear of being bothered by mosquitoes, no-see-ums and biting insects,” says Jenkins, an engineer and president of SWAT Mosquito Systems®️, a licensed pest control company. “Our system is higher quality than other companies in South Florida. And, because we are the largest in the region, we can supply a better and quicker service.” SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ creates a mosquito- free barrier around your business, home, pool and backyard by installing a system of nickel-plated and stainless-steel nozzles in order to kill mosquitoes and other insects. It is a fully automated system that uses a safe, botanical insecticide derived from chrysanthemums, or an equally safe organic alternative made from rosemary oil. Jenkins explains that his team of pest control professionals takes great care to custom design each misting system to be highly effective, but largely unnoticeable. “We’re perfectionists,” he says. “We’re always concerned about how it looks and making sure it is installed correctly.”

Once installed, the system sprays at regular intervals, according to the client’s schedule and needs. Jenkins recommends misting during the evening and nighttime hours, when biting insects are most active. Each SWAT system comes with a comprehensive guarantee and the company’s lifetime warranty covers all parts and labor for full-service customers. “We know the system works,” Jenkins says. “We have a saying: We move in, mosquitoes move out.”

This article originally appeared in The Boca Raton Observer” Special Advertising Section.

 

Mosquitoes bugging the bejesus outta you? Time to call in the SWAT team!

Palm trees, balmy weather, sunshine…we Floridians are not only lucky, we’re smart! We’re brainy enough to have chosen the best place to live in the entire country. But living in paradise, like living anywhere else, comes with its everyday challenges, and just like anything else, some of those are bigger than others. On the larger scale, yes, we have to deal with hurricanes. On a smaller scale, but no less taxing, is the nuisance of mosquitoes

An indigenous band of blood-sucking soldiers, these loathsome buggers wage warfare on us by sneak attack.  They’re not just irritating, causing itchy welts on our skin and obliterating a painstakingly-planned pool party in mere minutes, they’re downright dangerous, potentially carrying West Nile virus, Zika and encephalitis, among other illnesses.

Sadly, there’s no solution to the first problem… other than stocking up on water and batteries and hunkering down. But to the second, there’s a resolution that’s not only effective, it’s environmentally-safe. SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ is a licensed, South Florida pest control company, whose secret weapon is a fully-automated misting system that uses Pyrethrum, a solution derived from chrysanthemums. They also offer a 100 percent USDA National Organic Compliant alternative, a rosemary-based solution made up of essential plant extracts and oils.

All of this might sound sweet, all flowers and herbs and such, but SWAT guarantees their method is downright deadly (to mosquitoes and no-seeums, of course.)  Why? Because their revolutionary system doesn’t just repel the insects, it veritably annihilates them. Therefore, enlisting the help of SWAT Mosquito Systems®️ is both an efficient, and nontoxic, way to fight back. (See, I told you Floridians were smart. But we’re also tough!)

Leave it to a Texan to wrangle up a herd of experts to corral these problematic pests and eradicate them from your home on the range.  President and Founder Steve Jenkins first launched their mosquito misting business in 2002, quickly becoming the highest grossing company of its kind in Northern Texas. Now having brought their expertise to South Florida in 2006, SWAT is enjoying success for this reason alone: it works. “SWAT can wipe out your mosquito problem in as little as two weeks – ensuring peace of mind and restoring the ability to enjoy the outdoors,” says Jenkins. “When you choose SWAT Mosquito Systems®️, you can be confident of worry-free, insect-free enjoyment of your outdoor spaces for years to come.”

Here’s the battle plan: the company installs a custom-built misting system of sprays, strategically located and concealed around the perimeter of the home. “The truly effective method for killing and controlling the mosquito population is to create a barrier around the home,” explains Jenkins. The pyrethrum is “misted” for about 30-60 seconds, three or four times a day. It directly affects the nervous system of biting insects, which kills rather than just repelling.

Think about it. Other repellent options can be a hassle, and don’t necessarily get the job done. Lighting citronella candles, or spraying can after can of stinky spray on your skin, only to have the mosquitoes come back and bite you in the you-know-what. SWAT’s system is favored by homeowners because it’s convenient and unobtrusive. “At SWAT Mosquito Systems®️, we are experts and industry pioneers who use the most technologically advanced, durable equipment available,” says Vice President and Project Manager Brent Ball. “We custom design each system to be highly effective yet virtually invisible, ensuring an aesthetically pleasing yard.”

Additionally, the system is an ideal fit for the increasingly automated world we live in. Command central is a digital display panel. It’s the only system of its kind to incorporate a level-sensing float switch, agitator, and 3-button remote control. “With an agitator, the solution stays well blended, for a consistent, even spray every time,” explains Ball. Setting or changing the frequency and duration of mist cycles on the easy-to-read display panel is a snap. A digital level sensor displays how much insecticide remains in the reservoir. There’s no waste, because when misting isn’t required, a weather sensor can automatically delay extraneous misting. And it even comes with a remote that allows you to mist in-between cycles, or turn the system off entirely. It’s an effortless way to show mosquitoes, and other similar insects, exactly who’s boss.

Best of all, the mosquitoes are the only ones at risk, not the homeowners, because SWAT offers a lifetime warranty for full service customers, as well as a money-back guarantee. “We offer the most comprehensive guarantee in the business,” says Ball. “If you are not fully satisfied with the system within 120 days of installation, we will remove the system and give you a complete refund.”

South Floridians spend thousands of dollars beautifying your home’s exterior, sprucing up the landscape, installing a fabulous swimming pool , and even building an outdoor kitchen to entertain your friends and family. Why let a mini-army of militant mosquitoes ruin the fun and wreak havoc, thereby wasting your investments, when there’s a safe and affordable solution available?

And consumers need not worry, because SWAT makes certain their misting system will endure for years to come, despite tough elements, due to the high quality, sturdy materials that encompass it. Stainless steel or nickel-plated nozzles are incorporated, with viton seals on the Italian fittings and pump. Even the control panel has a weatherproof enclosure. “Building custom mosquito systems is all we do. And we do it right,” says Jenkins, adding, “We use the latest technology available to make the best backyard mosquito control system possible.”

It’s time to take back your terrain. With the SWAT Mosquito System, those devious, and bothersome guerrillas will be outsmarted, and strategically defeated. Hiring SWAT is like bringing in the cavalry, and soon the war against mosquitoes will be over. They’ll be waving the white flag in surrender, and you will be victorious.

For more information, call 1-866-900-SWAT, or visit www.swatmosquitosystems.com

This article originally appeared in “Simply the Best” magazine’s may/june 2014 issue: Guerillas in the Mist

 

In the past week, news of the spreading Zika virus has taken the media by storm. Typically more common in Central and South America, there have been 12 reported cases in Florida in the past week – enough for Governor Scott to issue a state of emergency in the five effected counties. For the rest of us, these recent cases serve as a great reminder of the importance of investing in an effective mosquito barrier and perhaps even installing a SWAT pyrethrum yard fogger. Domestically we are accustomed to hearing about West Nile Virus, and for international travelers malaria and dengue steal most of the headlines. So what is the deal with the Zika virus, and what can we do to prevent it?

What is the Zika virus and how can a Pyrethrum yard fogger help fight it?

The Zika virus is a mosquito borne virus that was first discovered in Uganda in the 1940s. It remained relatively isolated for a long time before spreading to the South Pacific. Most recently, the virus has been spreading dramatically throughout Central and South America, and there is a real threat it could extend into the Southern U.S. as well. Thankfully, the 12 reported cases in Florida are all in individuals who were bit by mosquitos while traveling in affected areas. If it does happen to extend into Florida and the Southern U.S., your best defense is to invest in a strong mosquito barrier. Currently, SWAT’s insect fogging technology has proven to be one of the best ways to rid your property of the potential virus-carrying mosquitos.

What would happen if you contracted the Zika virus?

Much like other mosquito born illnesses, the Zika virus has a varying degree of severity. About 1/5 of people with the Zika virus will develop body aches, a fever, rash, nausea, and diarrhea with symptoms dissipating after about one week. The most rare, and severe, forms of the Zika virus can lead to a neurological condition that weakens muscles, damages nerves, and can even paralyze. The more severe symptoms will last weeks, months, or even years. In extreme cases, this condition can even lead to death. Many of the people who contract the virus, however, show no symptoms and have no idea they have become a carrier. While good for the individual, this is very concerning from an epidemiology standpoint. If the right species of mosquito bites an infected individual the insect now becomes a carrier, and the disease can spread rapidly. This is a concern in Florida as the number of reported cases has grown, and now is the perfect time to invest in a preventative insect fogging machine..

While a state of emergency has been issued in Florida for the recent Zika virus reports, it is not yet time to panic. By installing a mosquito barrier or pyrethrum yard fogger from SWAT, you can do your part to keep yourself and your family safe if this virus does start to spread. For more information about this virus, visit the CDC website at: www.cdc.gov/zika/