How do I Choose the Best Mosquito Insecticide?

The best mosquito insecticide usually contains chemicals called pyrethroids or pyrethrins or a general-use pesticide called malathion. These chemical pesticides are usually best applied via insect foggers, which are used to create a fog of insecticide. Pesticide appliers typically recommend using the foggers at dusk, which is when mosquitoes are most active. Unfortunately, insect foggers are not effective for killing mosquitoes that are not active in the area when they are applied. Even if you choose the best mosquito pesticide, you will likely have to reapply it to control the mosquito population.

While you may speculate that most types of pesticides will work for killing mosquitoes, many prove ineffective. The best mosquito pesticide usually contains one of three types of chemicals: pyrethroid, pyrethrin, or malathion. Pyrethroids are synthetic chemicals that kills insects, including mosquitoes. Pyrethrins are natural poisons that are intended to penetrate an insect’s nervous system. Malathion is an organophosphate, which means it acts on nerves; it is a common general-use pesticide that is effective for killing mosquitoes.

While pyrethroid, pyrethrin, and malathion are effective for killing mosquitoes, they are unlikely to work effectively unless they are delivered in a proper manner. Spraying these insecticides is unlikely to kill an abundance of mosquitoes, but applying them in the form of a fog is usually effective. Insect foggers that contain these chemicals usually kill most mosquitoes that are in the area and active when they are applied. Once the mosquito insecticide dissipates from the area, mosquitoes that enter the area will not be killed; the mosquito insecticide fog usually only provides mosquito control for a few days. Reapplication is usually necessary to control mosquito populations.

Once you’ve chosen an effective mosquito pesticide, it is usually important to take care with deciding when to apply it. To kill the most mosquitoes, it typically is best to use an insect fogger at dusk. This is when mosquitoes in the affected area are most likely to be active and flying through the air.

If you are applying mosquito pesticide to your residential property, make sure it is labeled for safe residential use. Likewise, it is critical that you use the pesticide exactly as the label instructs. In most jurisdictions, people can apply mosquito insecticide on their own residential property without a license. Those who will use mosquito pesticides on commercial properties or in public places often need licensing.