Selecting a mosquito misting concentrate for your system can be a bit confusing for some. So I’ll break it down here into three different categories first; there are the full synthetic blends, semi-organic, and organic concentrates.
The synthetic blends contain mostly permethrin which is an insecticide in the Pyrethroid family. Pyrethroids are synthetic chemicals that act like natural extracts from the chrysanthemum flower. Permethrin is used in a number of ways to control insects. Products containing permethrin may be used in public health mosquito control programs. They may be used on livestock, in structures and buildings, and on clothing. Permethrin was the first to be registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The synthetic blends such as Sector are known to be the most effective concentrate for mosquito misting creating an 80-90% reduction.
Now moving on to the semi-organic blends Pyrethrum/Pyrethrins are natural insecticides extracted from Chrysanthemum flowers. The structure of the molecule is so complex that insect resistance to Pyrethrum is practically non-existent. Insects do not build up immunity to Pyrethrins, so the effect will not diminish over time. It is clear and free of allergens Riptide is one of the leading semi-organic concentrates on the market today. These can be just as effective as the syntenic blends producing up to a 70-90% reduction.
Lastly the organic blend there are many new products that are now available for use in our misting systems that are organic and EPA exempt for over water use (ideal for spider control on boat docks, and fly control for horse stables and more). These are non-toxic to humans, pets, and aquatic life. These products are especially helpful in our boat dock systems for spider control, where other products are not allowed. While the effects of the organic are not as good as with Permethrin or Pyrethrins, this option is still much better than nothing at all. Most of these products are odorless and can be sprayed at times when people are present. The most common active ingredient is Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which is found in many personal care products such as soap and shampoos. They work by coating the insect’s body and not allowing them to breathe, effectively suffocating them. The effectiveness can be roughly estimated to be about 60% effective, products like Zero Bite are used in a lot of insect misting systems where an organic option is needed.
