Mosquito Joe’s Pollinator Protection Management Program

Pollinators are a valuable part of the ecosystem and honey bees specifically are important to the agricultural system and the food supply it generates. It is well-documented that honey bees have faced, and continue to face, significant threats, including parasites and disease, habitat loss and potentially detrimental effects from pesticides. Accordingly, Mosquito Joe, like many in the pest management industry, takes pollinator protection seriously.

Mosquito Joe field operations are characterized by professionalism, extensive training and strict adherence to State regulations, and our approach to pollinator protection is no different. Our Pollinator Protection Management Program is designed around three key areas: familiarity with customer property, application procedures and the products we use.

  1. Familiarity with customer property: Franchise business owners and their technicians thoroughly inspect customer properties each time they provide service. In the context of pollinator protection, this helps ensure that flowering plants and shrubs, plants and shrubs on the verge of flowering, and vegetable gardens, are clearly identified and treated accordingly, either with specific products (see Products section below) or not at all.
  2. Application procedures: When applying our standard synthetic barrier products, technicians are trained to not spray within ten (10) feet of flowering plants and shrubs, plants and shrubs on the verge of flowering, or vegetable gardens. Wind direction (i.e., the cause of drift) is considered when spraying, and may necessitate a greater standoff distance than ten (10) feet.
  3. Products: While pesticides are a potential factor to the pollinators, the concern is largely with neonicotinoids, a family of pesticides which we do not use. In addition, if requested by the customer to spray flowering plants and shrubs, plants and shrubs on the verge of flowering, or vegetable gardens, we have a product that is suitable for this purpose and we closely follow the manufacturer’s application instructions on the product label. We use a different selected product when treating beekeepers’ properties, applied in strict adherence to the EPA-registered label*, and work with beekeeper customers on scheduling services for the optimum time.

We pride ourselves on our communication with our customers, starting with education and then working together when we customize our treatment plan for each individual property. From the professionalism and training of all our technicians to how we operate in accordance with the laws and regulations of both the EPA and each respective State, Mosquito Joe puts great emphasis on our Pollinator Protection Management Program.

Mosquito Joe’s Commitment to Continuing Education

Mosquito Joe is committed to staying abreast of any trends and advances when it comes to pollinators, and especially honey bees. Research conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency, United States Department of Agriculture and other industry associations shows that there are a number of factors contributing to the declining health of honey bees, and the interactions among them is complex.

Multiple stressors affecting bee health include:

  • Varroa mite: Several reports recognize this pest as the single most detrimental factor for pollinators.
  • Pathogens and viruses: The bacterial disease “American foulbrood” in particular.
  • Pesticide exposure: Neonicotinoids in particular, especially in commercial agriculture applications.
  • Bee management practices: Long migratory routes to support pollination.
  • Poor nutrition: Loss of foraging habitat and reliance on supplemental diets.

Thank you for your shared interest in the sustainability of pollinators. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Mosquito Joe Operations: operations@mosquitojoe.com.


References:

*Product labels are provided to our customers upon request.