Hello everyone,

Despite a cold and slow beginning to May, weather forecasting shows that 70 and 80 degree temperatures are not far away. With nighttime lows sustaining above 50 degrees, insect activity will be picking back up for the next several months.
With that being said, mosquito and tick activity will be on the rise as well, and R&D will be ready to meet them. All mosquito and tick treatments will begin June 1, unless requested to begin sooner. Why we begin treating the first week of June is simple: the first mating season is finished, temperatures are ideal for treatments and insect activity is high. All said, these factors allow for a very effective treatment. When temperatures are high, treatments dry quicker and are activated much faster. This is important for safety concerns.
Some companies will treat two times a month, or up to seven times during a calendar season. This is not necessary. When done properly, a mosquito and tick treatment will have a residual effect that can last upwards of 60-90 days, depending on weather conditions and treatment methods.
We rotate our treatments so that we can maximize this residual window and save you money. By treating four times in a calendar year, we can efficiently treat the mosquito populations without adding unnecessary treatments into the environment around your home. The goal is control, not extermination or over saturation.
Some of you are probably wondering about the outbreak of EEE that occurred last year, and if this year will be the same or worse. In my opinion, it won’t be as bad as it was last year. Why I say that relates to the conference we attended this winter for the Michigan Mosquito Control Association. During that conference, we learned that last year’s EEE outbreak was a perfect storm of events that allowed an outbreak of such magnitude to occur. Last year was a particularly wet year for Michigan, especially the southwest portion of the state. This area is where EEE outbreaks occur in the state, due to the heavy presence of bogs and wetlands as well as the presence of a certain breed of mosquito, culiseta Melanura, which has a high aptitude for vectoring EEE. However, the species coq. Perturbans is the mosquito that’s likely to pass EEE to humans, as they feed on birds infected by cul. Melanura, who have a low incidence of human feeding.
We did have a mild winter in Michigan the past few months, but we also had a warming period that was recently followed by freezing temperatures. Despite being a nuisance, this cold spell could help prevent another outbreak like the one last year, delaying the first breeding period or substantially knocking it down. We also have to consider that with the current Covid-19 situation, people may be less active as they were last summer, limiting the potential cases of EEE.
However, it is always best to stay vigilant when going outside, especially at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active. During the day, be careful when in shady areas. Mosquitoes avoid sunlight at all costs, so use the sun as your protector. Personally, I carry a small bottle of citronella oil with me during the spring and summer months, but it’s always best to be aware of your surroundings, and whether or not mosquitoes are likely to be in your area. Wear long sleeves, long pants, and apply repellents as needed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 517-202-5543, ext 102. Or email: shane@rdlandscape.com