What is a misting system?
Misting systems deliver products by way of nozzles located in strategic areas of your property to kill and or repel the target insect. Systems can be operated automatically at the appropriate time of day or by a manual “on-demand” mist cycle.
Is a Power Mister hard to Install?
No, Power Mister is designed for easy installation. Most systems can be installed in a few hours by following the step-by-step instructions.
How Reliable is the System?
Each component has been chosen for reliability after exhaustive testing. Keeping it simple is the key to keeping reliability high.
How much does the system cost to operate?
It depends on the number of nozzles you have in your system and how often your system mists per day. On average, product costs are 4 cents per nozzle per day or $1 per day for a typical system of 25 nozzles.
Are Mosquitoes really that dangerous?
Some consider the mosquito to be the most dangerous living organism known to man. Not only can mosquitoes carry diseases that afflict humans, they also transmit several diseases and parasites that dogs and horses are very susceptible to, including West Nile virus, dog heartworm, and Equine encephalitis.
Are residential mist systems safe? EPA has assessed the human health and environmental risks of the pesticides most commonly used in misting systems. Most of these products last for only short periods in the environment, so long-term exposure to humans is not expected. Based on its assessment, using toxicity data and exposure estimates, EPA does not expect risks of concern to humans when these pesticides are used in outdoor residential systems according to label instructions specific for use in these systems. No pesticide should be regarded as 100% risk free.
Will mist products harm my pets? Individual sensitivities are unique to each individual and animal, and just as some pets are allergic to turf grasses, some may have particular sensitivities to pyrethrum, but note that pyrethrum is the number one product used for tick and flea control by veterinarians. The products used in misting systems include label directions on how to use them as dog and cat dips.
Will mist system products harm my plants?
In most cases the products used do not harm plants. However if you do experience any plant burn, you should redirect the misting nozzles away from the plant. Plants in stress are more susceptible to plant burn.
Will mist system products harm beneficial insects? Most misting system products are toxic to insects, so direct contact could kill a non-targeted insect. Although a beneficial insect could be exposed to the product, the likelihood is minimal as recommended misting cycles are at night.
Why is it important to read the product label? Since products are designed for specific applications, it is important to read the label so that you know whether the product has been designed for the intended use. It is important to read and follow the label directions so that you use the right product in the correct way. Pesticide laws prohibit use of these products contrary to label instructions. All products must be approved for use in a mosquito misting systems and must be approved for use in your state.
What types of products are commonly used in mist systems?
The following products are the most common used:
Pyrethrum is a botanical insecticide produced primarily in the flowers of a species of the chrysanthemum plant family. Pyrethrum is an ancient insecticide. Pyrethrum plants have historically been grown in commercial quantities in East Africa where the mature pyrethrum flowers are picked by hand, sun dried to remove moisture, and sent to a processing plant for extraction of the active ingredient-pyrethrins, a mixture of six closely related esters. Pyrethrum has flushing action; it disturbs insects so they move out of their hiding places and expose themselves to the insecticidal spray. Against insects, it has a very rapid paralytic action, knocking them down followed by kill. It decomposes rapidly in the environment, making it an excellent choice for controlling pests. Pyrethrum has been extensively studied from a toxicology viewpoint. It is low in acute toxicity to humans and other vertebrate animals, is non-carcinogenic and causes no adverse reproductive affects.
Permethrin is a common widely used synthetic insecticide. It belongs to the family of synthetic chemicals called pyrethroids and functions as a neurotoxin, affecting neuron membranes of targeted insects. It is not known to harm most mammals or birds. It generally has a low mammalian toxicity and is poorly absorbed by skin. Permethrin is used to kill pest insects in agriculture, home pest control, forestry, and in public health programs, including head lice control. Permethrin which is a contact insecticide and not a repellent kills insects by exciting their nervous system, making it very sensitive to stimuli from sense organs. Permethrin is the cost-effective-versatile insecticide, with many uses. It is excellent for control of yard insects. It has been reported that in the U.S. over 100 million applications of permethrin are made each year in homes and over 18 million applications are made in yards and gardens.
PBO (Piperonyl Butioxide) is an emulsifiable synergist for use in combination with insecticides, especially synthetic pyrethroids, as a tank mix to overcome resistance that pests develop with constant use of insecticides. PBO breaks through the insect's defense and its synergistic activity makes the insecticide more powerful and effective. Actual results show that PBO either decreased the cost of pest control since smaller doses are needed, or provided better control of insects where cases of maximum dosages of pesticides without PBO had failed.
