In addition, they spray indiscriminately in the daytime when all of the pollinators are flying, despite the fact that pollinator organizations have spoken out about the need to spray after dark. After all, they would have to pay their workers overtime to do so. And the definition of after dark in the summer is typically after 9 PM - can you imagine them actually following that directive? Does the photo below look safe to you?
Please try alternative methods.
- Use bug repellant on your skin. If you don't want Deet (I don't), you can purchase bug repellant without Deet.
- There are plants that deter mosquitoes if you plant them in your yard. I have a large rosemary bush by my front steps and there are never mosquitoes there.
- Read up on things to do such as emptying standing water in your yard, using biological mosquito dunks (at the big box hardware stores), etc. Here's an article by Walter Reeves, a well-known Atlanta gardener, about what to do instead of spray.
- Time's article on mosquito proofing your yard
I have my own private pesticide protest. I walk my dog two to three miles a day through our Virginia Highlands neighborhood. At least ten beekeepers live in my area within a couple of blocks of me. Every time I see one of the signs indicating that mosquito spray has been used in the yard, I pull the sign out of the ground and lay it on its side on the grass so people won't see it as they go by. On Mondays (which is trash collection day), I put the signs in the curbside garbage containers.
