Tackling Insecticide Drift

Insecticide drift remains a consideration for PMPs. “Drift is a concern. My technicians know that if it is very windy, then we are not using the mist blower,” said Greg Stephens, owner of Ultra Pest Control.

The same goes if the neighboring property has a lot of flowers. Instead, technicians use a regular backpack sprayer because it produces a larger droplet size. Larger droplets are less likely to get blown in the wind, he said.

A few years ago, Stephens said he had an incident where a neighbor grilling out in his backyard was exposed to drift from his technician’s mosquito treatment.

It’s essential to be mindful of what’s going on next door, whether that’s beekeeping, a koi pond or human activity. “Always walk the property before you treat,” Stephens said.

Insecticide drift was a growing concern at 39% of service locations and a major concern for 18%, according to the 2025 PCT State of the Mosquito Control Market survey.