How much does mosquito and tick spraying cost in Virginia?

Loclis found no dated, published price for residential mosquito and tick spraying in Virginia, so any single average would be guesswork. What you can control is what you are buying. The price of a plan comes down to a handful of things you can see in a written quote, and some of the most useful mosquito control costs nothing at all.

What drives the price

How many visits. In Virginia, mosquito season runs from early May to early November.^[1] A single spray rarely lasts that long. Many of the pesticides available for residential use may not last long, and mosquitoes that fly into a yard a few days after a treatment may be unaffected.^[3] After a spray, eggs and larvae already in standing water will keep emerging as adults over the next few weeks.^[3] That is why most mosquito plans are sold as a series of visits, and the visit count is usually the biggest number on the quote.

Mosquitoes, ticks or both. Tick treatments are aimed at a season and a place: the woods edge, stone walls and shady beds, timed for when young ticks peak. In Fairfax County, the Health Department says the best time to apply permethrin to a yard for ticks is between late March and early May.^[7] A combined plan that also covers mosquitoes all summer costs more than a spring tick treatment on its own.

How much ground is treated. A small lot with a fence line and a few shrubs takes less product and time than an acre with a wooded border, a creek or a pond that needs a careful buffer.

The method. A technician with a backpack sprayer is one kind of purchase. A misting system is another: spray nozzles mounted around the house, lawn, landscaping or fence, connected by tubing to a supply of insecticide and often run on a timer or remote.^[6] With a misting system you pay for the installed equipment and keep paying for insecticide refills and service. Weigh that against the evidence: outdoor residential misting systems have not been studied enough to show that they control mosquitoes, and they have not been shown to control or prevent the spread of West Nile virus.^[6]

Contract terms. Some companies sell a season contract that renews automatically. Know the length and the cancellation terms before you sign.

What your locality may already pay for

Some mosquito control in Virginia is paid for through local government. The governing body of any county, city or town may create a mosquito control district, alone or jointly with neighboring localities.^[10] A locality that is part of a mosquito control district may levy an annual special tax of up to 25 cents per $100 of assessed value on property in the district to pay for it.^[11]

Programs differ by place. The City of Suffolk runs an integrated mosquito management program that relies on surveillance, trapping and testing to find problem areas.^[9] The Fairfax County Health Department offers a free yard inspection to help find mosquito breeding sites, but it does not spray for nuisance mosquitoes.^[8] Before you pay anyone, contact your local health department or mosquito control district to find out whether your community sprays for mosquitoes.^[4]

Free steps that cut what you need

A lot of backyard mosquitoes are raised in the same yard. The Virginia Department of Health's advice: "Dump water that collects in containers at least every week."^[2] Check buckets, toys, tarps, plant saucers, tires and clogged gutters; a bottle cap holds enough water for mosquitoes to breed.^[8] If water is pooling because gutters are blocked, see why gutters overflow.

Rain barrels, bird baths and ornamental ponds can all breed mosquitoes.^[2] Change bird bath water often, and use larvicide dunks in water you keep, following the package. Indoors, use screens on windows and doors and repair any holes or tears in them.^[2]

For ticks, most of the work is yard work: mowing, raking out leaf litter and laying a dry border at the woods edge. How to get rid of ticks in your yard covers it step by step, and it can shrink the area a company needs to treat.

What to ask for in a written quote

The National Pesticide Information Center's checklist for choosing a pest control company is a good starting point. "Can the company offer an estimate for services in writing? Many offer free estimates."^[5] Get estimates from more than one company and compare their rates and services.^[5] And: "Does the company require you to sign up for a long-term contract? If so, what are the long-term costs?"^[5]

A complete quote should state:

• the names of the products and their EPA registration numbers, the form of each product and where it will be used^[5]
• the pests covered and the months of service
• the number of visits, the price per visit and the season total
• what happens if mosquitoes or ticks come back between visits
• contract length, renewal and cancellation terms
• how the company will protect ponds, vegetable gardens and play areas

Check the licence before you compare prices. In Virginia, no one may apply or recommend a pesticide commercially without a pesticide business license and a certified commercial applicator on staff.^[12] If children or pets use the yard, read whether mosquito spraying is safe for kids and pets and ask each company the questions there.

Stop and call a pro if

• Mosquitoes stay heavy after you have removed standing water for a few weeks, or you cannot find where they are breeding.
• Your yard backs onto woods and ticks keep turning up on people or pets.
• There is water you cannot drain, such as an abandoned pool next door; report that to your local health department.
• You want a pesticide applied for you rather than doing the free steps yourself. Hire a licensed pest control business, and see what licences pest control companies need in Virginia.

Getting help on Loclis

Tick season in Virginia is longer than most people expect; see when it starts and ends. For general pricing, read what pest control costs in Virginia. Browse mosquito and tick services, find pest control around Blacksburg, or read more pest control answers. When you are ready, describe the job on Loclis so licensed businesses can quote it in writing.