So, you have decided to buy a thermal mosquito fogger, congratulations on taking the best step in freeing your yard from harmful mosquitoes. The crucial component of mosquito fogging, and the star player of fogging in general is the quality of the insecticides you mix into it. The process of mixing your chosen chemical is relatively simple, but it is crucially important to mix the chemical with the appropriate level of water or oil depending on the model of fogger.
How To Mix Fogger Chemicals Correctly
Thermal mosquito foggers require that the chosen insecticide be mixed with a model-specific amount of water or oil to ensure proper results. An equal ratio of the two liquids is usually adequate.
No matter what model of mosquito fogger that you choose to purchase, written instructions will usually guide you as to what types of chemicals may be best for that particular unit. Pyrethroid insecticides are usually universally acceptable insecticides for mosquito foggers. Depending on your particular model, you may need to mix the insecticide with a type of deodorized oil for typical thermal foggers and a ratio of chemical and water in most ULV foggers.
For engine-based backpack thermal foggers, you will want to choose a powerful pyrethroid chemical specially made to target mosquitoes and that can be used in mosquito foggers. These types of mosquito foggers will usually require either oil or water to mixed equally with your chosen chemical.Â
If your fogger requires oil to run in conjunction with your chosen chemical, simply mix an equal part of fogging oil with the chemical. A good brand of fogging oil is Starbrite Fogging Oil, since this oil can be used for a variety of purposes and extends engine life.
If your mosquito fogger calls for water to be mixed along with your chosen chemical, simply mix an equal amount with the chemical. Oil-based foggers generally allow for increased fogging time in comparison to water-based foggers which seem to allow a much shorter amount of time to fog. Always consult your user manual to be sure that your fogger requires water or oil and follow the mixture directions explicitly.
What Chemicals Can You Use in a Thermal Fogger?
Mosquitoes can be incredibly difficult pests to combat due to the fact that they spend their time flying and only landing on animals to draw blood. Since these animals are usually human beings, the residual effect of insecticides needs to be well-tolerated to the human body. Pyrethroids such as bifen and permethrin are two types of chemicals that are relatively safe to the human body and are lethal to flying insects.
Black Flag Fogging Insecticide
If you are looking for a quick knock down of mosquitoes, bifen is the chemical that you should apply to your fogger.Â
A product such as Black Flag Flying Insect Killer contains a mixture of bifen and piperonyl butoxide, which provide a fast knock down of mosquitoes who come into contact with the fog. Pyrethroids of this family are perfect if you do not want to have residual chemicals lining most of your outside structures.
Martin's Permethrin 10%
If you do wish to have a residual component, a commercial mosquito fogger chemical that contains permethrin will give you the optimal benefits that come with mosquito fogging.
A permethrin concentrate such as Martin's Permethrin 10%, will combine the best effects of quick mosquito knock down with the six to seventy-two hours residual effects that can be utilized by fogging the chemical.
Pyrethroids
The great thing about pyrethrin insecticide solutions is that you can use these chemicals in either a traditional thermal fogger, ULV or commercial fogger. Pyrethroids are generally safe when exposed to humans and they are the safest and effective insecticides to use against mosquitoes. Like all chemicals, you will want to cross-reference your particular brand of fogger to ensure that the chemical you choose can be tolerated by the model.
Related Questions
How Do You Make Homemade Mosquito Fogger Liquid?
Making a solution that requires a chemical and/or water or oil is a simple task, but if you are wondering if it is at all possible to create your very own mosquito fogger liquid, the answer is yes you can.
The most popular method utilized in homemade mosquito fogger solution is to create a mixture of water and essential oils that can be used to repel mosquitoes. Simply mix your fogger's reservoir tank with a half mixture of water and essential oils such as lemon balm and catnip and begin the fogging process as usual. Always consult your model's user manual to ensure that your model can stand having substances such as this mixed into it.
Can Permethrin Be Used in a Fogger?
Permethrin is one of the best and most common chemicals used in mosquito blower. Permethrin provides powerful residual components when it is atomized inside of a fogger. Permethrin can last in covered areas up to six hours in traditional thermal foggers and upwards of seventy-two hours in ULV foggers.
Does Permethrin Kill Mosquitoes?
Permethrin and pyrethroids in general are incredibly toxic to nearly all flying insects and with this benefit comes the added benefit of these chemicals being safe when exposed to humans. Although it is never advisable to willingly expose yourself to permethrin, the side effects of exposure are usually non-existent.
“Permethrin treatment of is an effective, inexpensive public health measure to reduce mosquito bites. Permethrin is effective among all individuals in all settings and is more effective than topical insect repellent alone.â€
For mosquitoes, this benefit is completely absent as this chemical attacks the central nervous system of the insect rendering it paralyzed and soon dead. Permethrin is also a residual pyrethroid, which means that this chemical will continue to kill landing mosquitoes for up to three days depending on the power of your mosquito fogger. Mosquitoes are slow at building a resistance to permethrin, which is good news since this chemical is such a safer alternative to more potent and toxic chemicals.
In Summary
Pyrethroid chemicals are a class of insecticides that are incredibly lethal to flying insects and very well-tolerated to the human system. They are the most popular types of chemicals to add to mosquito foggers and many models will only allow pyrethroids such as bifen and permethrin to be mixed into their reservoir.
If you want to have your mosquito fogger do a quick knock down of the surrounding mosquito population in your yard, then bifen-based chemicals are the best type to utilize.
If you want the residual effects of your fogging solution to last for hours or days, then permethrin chemicals are the best to utilize. When it comes to mixing the chemicals for your fogger, each model may have different measures to take to ensure that the chemical is mixed with the proper amount of water or oil-based upon the type of fogger.
Some thermal foggers require no additional water or oil, but whichever type of fogger you choose to buy, you can rest assured that the mixing process is simple and quick.
Reference
Boulware, D., & Beisang, A. (2005). Passive Prophylaxis With Permethrin-Treated Products Reduced Mosquito Bites Among North American Summer Campers. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2206677/.
