It’s true that almost everyone desperately tries to find and implement a good method to get rid of mosquitoes and to save themselves from mosquito bites. That is why many people opt for Mosquito Shield.
Even after strong marketing claims, the company couldn’t meet the target by not being able to provide what it promised precisely.
There have been many complaints filed by consumers that others need to know of before they decide to take their service. They need a chance to consciously consider whether it’s worth it or not.
Major Complaints Against Mosquito Shield
Before getting into the in-depth discussion of the problems related to Mosquito Shield, a short overview of the problems is provided here:
- Toxic Chemicals
- Harming Pets
- Killing Insects
- Plants and Pollinators
- Quality
- Money Back Guarantee
To explain the issues briefly, most people were not informed about the damage that Mosquito Shields might have on their pets, fish, and plants, and even how it might also affect humans in certain circumstances.
All insect-repelling sprays and products from different brands have their own cons and complaint, Mosquito Shield claimed that its effectiveness is 95-98% causing no harm to humans and the environment.
Keep reading to find out about Mosquito Shield’s main complaints and what could be the possible solution to those complaints.
- Toxic Chemicals
According to many complaints, people suffered from severe headaches, respiratory distress, burning sensation on skin and lips, numbness, nausea, and dizziness due to the spraying.
For some, this lasted for around an hour, and for others, they had to stay out for hours.
None of these side effects were mentioned, and moreover, they ensured that it was safe and non-toxic. Furthermore, this raises more concern about the safety of children since these mosquito shields are not as harmless as they claim to be.
To take care of this problem, it is best to stay away to get less exposure to these harmful compounds. In order to do that, those who are already aware of these issues might warn others to avoid getting sick.
- Harming Pets
Not just us humans, the pets also get affected by Mosquito Shields as was reported by many pet owners. It was observed that in comparison, the chickens and dogs were doing fine.
Cats, on the other hand, showed concerning movements. Their liver enzymes are not sufficient for the purpose of detoxification.
Fishes are also extremely sensitive. This is a well-known fact. Although by law they are forbidden to spray near the water bodies, many franchises, however, do not follow these regulations.
To ensure the safety of cats and kittens, keep them away from that sprayed environment so that the effect on them is the least.
As for the fish, remind them not to spray near bodies of water or fish ponds. They must follow the law and maintain the safety of animals.
Instead of just getting rid of the mosquitoes, the spray is extremely toxic to native pollinators, for example, butterflies and bees.
These chemicals often harm the insects that often eat mosquitoes and tend to pollinate the yard. People often reported finding dead mites, spiders, millipedes, centipedes, and many more types of insects in the yard.
Even weeks later, monarch caterpillars die due to the presence of the chemical on leaves. Honey bees get gilled even if they are inside their own hive, and not directly getting sprayed.
It’s only natural that the bees will leave the hive. Afterward, from the residue of the spray which remains on puddles or plants, the bees might drink.
As a result, they bring back the toxins with them inside the hive when they return. The same goes for fireflies, which are usually active mostly during the evenings.
Therefore, it ends up killing more insects than mosquitoes and does not even spare earthworms. So, to avoid such a situation, one can opt for companies that have solutions based on essential oils.
Though this “all-natural essential oil solution” needs more frequent treatment, in the long term, it is better for bees, butterflies, fireflies, and good insects. Take advantage of this non-toxic, natural, and effective process to preserve this native wildlife.
- Plants and Pollinators
The seed production of the plants which depend on pollinators would reduce significantly. This is a huge matter for rare plants whose reproductive rate decreases due to the chemicals in spraying.
Plants can also get affected directly since the negative particles in the spray stays chemically active for several weeks. In order to prevent this from happening, sprays made from plant-based essential oils can reduce the effect, once again.
Even though it can harm different beneficial insects and bees if they come in contact directly, it still is a more organic option offered by companies.
- Quality
There has been a plunge in the quality of service of Mosquito Shield.
It was pointed out by a good number of people who have been taking their service for several years that the effect of the spraying is just temporary now.
Nowadays, this temporary effect just knocks the mosquitoes a bit, it does not kill or eliminate them permanently.
On top of that, if it rains, then this no longer works and the effect dies.
The only solution to this problem is to talk to their office directly, or better to look for other companies who are providing the same service with better facilities.
- Money Back Guarantee
The company promised to give a full refund if they fail to fulfill their commitment and cannot gain their customer’s satisfaction. According to some of the clients, even after the spraying, they had mosquitoes all summer.
Although their website says that in such cases too, they will give them an unconditional refund, that, however, was not the case. They neither refunded nor resprayed.
Contrary to this, Mosquito Shield was fined $300,000 for making false, deceptive, and misleading claims about pest control, under the settlement with Federal Trade Commission.
They took advantage of the situation and people’s fear of getting sick to increase their profit, and expand their sales and services.
However, they did not have any evidence or proof to support the claims that they made. Therefore, they were charged legally by the FTC, and consequently, they agreed to pay it.
Also Read: Differences Between Rolef And Bug Wall Bug Screens.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, it is. Mosquito Shield works well for a mosquito-free day or evening. But its performance is fluctuating and causing harm to the environment.
The two main chemicals present in Mosquito Shield are bifenthrin and/or D-allethrin.
For a quarter- to half-acre property, the mosquito control service usually costs $350 to $500. The price is subject to change depending on the property size and how frequently treatments are taken.
David Briggs owns Mosquito Shield. He founded it in 2001.
Conclusion
Whether for gardening or for spending some quality time with family grilling and enjoying, the unwelcome visitor that goes around everywhere to ruin half the fun and turn the party into an itchy nightmare are mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes certainly are annoying. But putting our health at risk, along with plants, pets, insects, and basically the native wildlife to keep the mosquitoes away is neither equal nor a fair exchange.
The Mosquito Shield complaints have their own solutions, as discussed earlier. You can also try and explore more natural ways by ditching the mosquito spray service.
