- Author: Belinda J. Messenger-Sikes
- Author: Lisa A. Blecker
[From Pests in the Urban Landscape blog]
Insecticide foggers, also known as total release foggers or “bug bombs” (Figure 1), are popular products widely available in many retail nurseries and garden centers as well as drug stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores. These easy-to-use products may seem to provide an easy way to kill a lot of bugs fast and may be viewed as more convenient and cheaper than hiring a pest management professional. But do they work?
Are Foggers Effective?
Foggers can be used effectively to kill pests that are flying around or resting on surfaces, like flies, but there are better long-term and more effective ways to manage these pests. Unfortunately, foggers are rarely effective for control of crawling insects like cockroaches, fleas, and bed bugs that can easily hide in crevices or beneath household items, escaping direct exposure. For best results, the active ingredients in these products must make contact with the pests. Insects that spend most of their time hiding will not be significantly affected by insect foggers. Even a small piece of fabric may be enough to protect bed bugs from the pesticide fog created by these products.
Since foggers leave a toxic residue on treated surfaces, users might see a few dead roaches after application, but many active ingredients in foggers are known to be repellent and may even drive pests deeper into wall voids and other hard-to-reach locations, sometimes even spreading them to other rooms. Pesticide resistance is another reason that insect foggers may not work. Many insect foggers contain pyrethrin or pyrethroid insecticides and some populations of household pests are known to be resistant to these pesticides.
Improper Use Can Cause Injuries
Foggers can also make people sick if they're exposed. In studies by the CDC, the most commonly reported symptoms after exposure were cough, upper respiratory pain or irritation, difficulty breathing, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain or cramping. Most of the time, the symptoms were mild and didn't require medical treatment, but there are reports of more serious injuries and people have even died from injuries related to foggers. According to these studies, injuries frequently happen when users don't read the instructions on the label. People can be also be exposed to the insecticide if they don't leave the premises after releasing the trigger on the product or return to their homes too early.
The labels of these products also instruct users to clean all exposed surfaces after use since these products leave pesticide residues. Failure to follow these instructions can lead to health hazards. The pesticide residues can be irritating, especially to occupants with asthma or other respiratory ailments.
For Safety, Follow the Label!
If you decide to purchase foggers, it is important to read and strictly following the instructions on the product label. You need to know the size of the room you're treating before going to the store, so you know how many foggers to buy. Otherwise, be sure to measure the size of the area you are treating before you begin fogging. More pesticide is not better; more can be dangerous.
For more information and safety precautions, see the US EPA website.
The National Pesticide Information Center also lists considerations and limitations when using foggers, along with several other resources for more useful information.
There are many effective ways to manage insect pests in the home. You can learn more on the UC IPM website. There you'll find practical, effective methods for controlling common household pests, without exposing yourself or other occupants of your home to pesticides.
[Original article published in the Winter 2020 issue of the UC IPM Retail Newsletter.]
/h2>/h2>/h2>- Author: Anne E Schellman
In Part I, we discussed why mosquitoes bite, and which mosquito species can spread West Nile and Zika virus. Now, let's talk about what mosquitoes need to reproduce, how to prevent them from breeding around your home, and best methods to protect yourself and your family while outdoors.
What do Mosquitoes Need to Breed?
The mosquitoes that spread West Nile virus and Zika need water to lay their eggs. Female mosquitoes can lay their eggs in even the smallest amount of water. Places in your yard that appeal to them include standing water found in ponds, garden pots, children's toys, or even pet water bowls. Eliminating these possible breeding spaces is key to mosquito control.
Watch the video “Don't Let Mosquitoes Breed in your Yard” from UC IPM for helpful tips.
Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites
There's a plethora of mosquito control and prevention items for sale, but many are ineffective.
When outdoors, protect your skin by wearing long-sleeved pants and shirts, long socks, and a hat. Be aware that mosquitoes can bite through a thin layer of clothing. Also, choose and apply an effective EPA-registered mosquito repellent that contains DEET, picardin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin.
You may be tempted to use outdoor sprays to battle mosquitoes. However, this method is only temporary and doesn't help control the source of the problem. The best way to avoid bites are prevention and protection.
Resources: UC IPM Pests in the Urban Landscape. Zika, Mosquitoes, and Repellents. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=21923