DETROIT – Summer nights are made for being outside, but it's no fun when mosquitoes crash the party.
"Our business has almost doubled from last year. A lot of that is because of the Zika virus. Everyone's kind of in panic mode about it," said Jennifer Lewis, part-owner of the Mosquito Joe's franchise in Wixom.
The company flier advertises "Added defense against the Zika virus."
"It's kind of that fear where people hear about it and they're concerned," Lewis said.
However, Michigan State University mosquito expert Professor Ned Walker says Zika should not be a factor when considering professional help to kill mosquitoes in your backyard.
"We don't have Zika virus in Michigan. The likelihood that we're going to have it is very low, and we also don't have the mosquitoes that carry it either," Walker told Help Me Hank.
The type of mosquito that spreads the virus has not been found in Michigan, and mosquitos that live in the state are not genetically able to spread the virus.
"The Zika risk is so low that I don't think people should want to control mosquitos around their home because of fear of Zika. That's just wrong thinking," Walker said.
Benefits of professional mosquito spraying
While you do not need professional spraying to avoid Zika, Walker said the treatments are effective, and Michigan mosquitos do spread other infections -- such as West Nile Virus. He says professional treatments around your yard can reduce the mosquito population by about 90 percent, at least temporarily.
Help Me Hank crews spent time with a team from Mosquito Joe's.
"Mosquitos are like vampires in that they hate sunlight. So, they look for safe harbors during the day," said Craig Comer, also part-owner of the franchise.
He demonstrated how his crews target leafy plants, closer to the ground where mosquitos like to hang out during the day. His teams use a chemical spray to treat those areas, killing mosquitoes. The spray they use most often is derived from the chrysanthemum flower.
"So, it's based on a flower in nature. EPA approved, safe for kids and pets," Comer said. He said each treatment takes about 15 minutes to dry, and the spraying must be done when it's dry outside and no rain is imminent.
Mosquito Joe's also assess yards to look for places where mosquitos might breed, such as any type of standing water. They will get rid of that standing water, but say homeowners also need to do their part to stop mosquitos from breeding as well.
Comer said treatment lasts about 21 days, but Walker estimates that time would be shorter. Both agree spraying your yard is a temporary solution, as new mosquitos will re-invade. Homeowners can purchase multiple treatments for their yards throughout the summer, and there are discounts if you pre-pay for the whole summer.
"It's kind of like mowing your lawn. If you let your lawn go.. you can't just go out and more it once," Comer said.
What about your neighbors?
Many of you might wonder if spraying your yard for mosquitoes is effective, if your neighbors are not spraying.
The answer is yes. Cromer said mosquitos rarely fly farther than 200 feet from where they hatch. However, if you have a whole neighborhood or subdivision signed up, the protection will be even greater.
"It's going to be more effective. It's almost going to be a lock down," he said.
Can you do it yourself?
Walker said homeowners could try to do their own chemical spraying, but the DIY approach comes with some significant drawbacks. First, the equipment can be rather expensive.
Second, any time you are mixing chemicals at home, you run the risk of something going wrong. Third, the professor worries homeowners may not take the necessary precautions while spraying.
"I know you can imagine somebody says, 'I'm going to go spray for mosquitos.' They've got their shorts on, their flip-flops, their tank-top. You're not wearing protective equipment," Walker said.
He offers this piece of advice: "My opinion is that it's safer if backyard treatments are done by professionals and not by homeowners."
As for the cost, Mosquito Joe's charges about $45 to $250 per treatment depending on the size of the property and the types of foliage around your home. They do offer pre-paid discounts if you have treatments all summer, and ask about discounts if the whole neighborhood decides to spray.
So, if your No. 1 concern this summer is the Zika virus, you don't necessarily need to spend the money for professional spraying. At this time, Michigan mosquitos cannot spread the virus and the type of mosquito that spreads Zika has not been found in Michigan.
However, if you're tired of the bugs and the bites, or you're worried about West Nile Virus or other infections found in Michigan, professional spraying can be a cost-effective way to win the summer battle with the dreaded mosquito.