2021 State of the Mosquito Control Market: Impact of COVID-19 was Mixed

More than a third (37 percent) of PMPs said the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on their companies’ overall pest control business in 2020, found the 2021 PCT State of the Mosquito Control Market survey.

When it came to mosquito control, however, only 26 percent said the pandemic had a positive effect, and half said it had no impact.

In follow-up interviews, some PMPs reported that more customers noticed the pests due to the pandemic’s stay-at-home orders.

“COVID has brought a higher focus for all to our living spaces, both indoor and outdoor. As people are home more, they’re spending more time outside, and they want to have a mosquito-free outdoor space. That’s become of great importance,” said Trey Strickland, Waynes.

SafeYard Mosquito Services in Holly Springs, Ga., picked up new customers who weren’t satisfied with their existing mosquito control service. “Yes, we did gain more business. The downside is people were out in their yards more and they noticed every little thing,” said Matthew Jennings, owner of the company.

That made setting customer expectations — that service is about reducing mosquito populations, not eliminating them — all the more important, Jennings pointed out.

Most PMPs (70 percent) said their companies did not adjust their mosquito control treatment protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and 81 percent did not expect the pandemic to affect the way their companies deliver mosquito control services to the marketplace long-term.