Mosquito Control

by Webster Arboretum
Mosquito Control

It’s difficult to find anything good to say about mosquitoes, biting flies, or ticks. Wouldn’t we all like a simple, straightforward method of mosquito control that eliminates them from our yards and lives?

Pyrethroids to the rescue!

You may have seen the promotions, either stuffed in your mailbox, on signs in neighbors yards, or possibly through a knock at your door.

No need to worry, it’s Mosquito Bob, or was it Ray, or Charlie to the rescue. A simple monthly visit and a cloud of pyrethroid spray and all your insect problems will be a distant memory.

Alas, experience teaches us that the miracle claims made by many advertisers take great liberties with the truth.

Anything for a buck

It’s difficult to find anything good to say about the companies that spray for mosquitos in residential neighborhoods.

Pest control companies know the dangers associated with their services. Yet they play upon our fears of potential mosquito and tick born illnesses, highlight the joys of hanging out in your backyard, and make little to no mention of the damage to the environment their “miracle sprays” cause.

Mosquito control services typically use chemicals like bifenthrin, cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, and permethrin which are all synthetic variations of pyrethrins, known as pyrethroids.

Pyrethroids are broad spectrum insecticides, meaning they do not discriminate between the insects we value and the insects we dislike.

Pyrethroids can persist in the environment for several months harming any insect that comes into contact with them. Monthly application of the chemicals only furthers the damage.

Bees, butterflies, caterpillars, dragonflies, earthworms, fireflies, ladybugs, spiders and thousands of other insect species die when they come in contact with pyrethroids.

The chemicals are also extremely toxic to aquatic organisms, especially fish and crustaceans. We might also mention that cats lack the ability to breakdown pyrethroids which can cause toxic levels of build-up in their systems.

Mosquito control companies will tell you the chemicals they use are safe. That they are derived from pretty little chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethrins are indeed found in chrysanthemum flowers, however, pyrethroids merely mimic the characteristics of pyrethrins, they are synthetic creations designed in a laboratory to be far more toxic and longer-lasting than their natural counterparts.

When prodded, they will swear they carefully avoid spraying flowering plants that attract pollinators. However, bees and other pollinators are often found on clover plants down amongst the grass. Many butterfly species lay their eggs on a variety of plants and trees. Many insects land on a wide variety of plants for the purpose of rest and ironically, safety. Wind can also cause pesticide drift, coating far more than targeted areas of the garden. Additionally, rain causes chemical runoff into creeks, streams, and waterways impacting fish and crustaceans.

Mosquito control services are highly profitable as recurring visits and monthly charges are often required. Numerous companies have popped up in the past 10 years and many lawn care companies have added it to their repertoire. Large scale marketing campaigns have increased the popularity of the service, as most of their customers are seemingly oblivious to the damage the service is causing to the environment.

Many farms use pyrethroids extensively. The EPA recommends farms clear flowering weeds in close proximity to their fields to reduce pollinator deaths due to drift from sprays. A drive through the country will quickly show that some farms follow the EPA recommendation, while others do not.

Insect and bird populations have been declining drastically in recent years. The situation is complex, but pesticides play a considerable role. With fewer insects there is less food available to insect eating birds. Many of the insects birds do eat contain measurable levels of pesticides.

We ask you to please consider not using insecticides of any kind on your property.

Alternatives and Recommendations

Fans

Alfredo Salkeld of the Buddha Bee Apiary recommends purchasing several electric floor fans for those evenings outdoors. “Wind may interfere with the mosquito’s ability to fly, but a fan on medium to high can also help disperse and dilute the carbon dioxide your body expels. And carbon dioxide attracts mosquitos.”

Native Plants and water

Planting water loving native plants like Button bushes, Cardinal flowers, and Swamp Milkweed not only attract pollinators but reduces the amount of standing water on your property.

Maintenance
  • Clean your gutters and other areas where water collects.
  • Use water circulating pumps in small ponds and water features.
  • Keep your lawn mowed to discourage ticks from moving into your yard.
BTI

Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis is a bacterium that naturally occurs in soil and is only toxic to mosquito and black fly larvae. It can be purchased as granules that can be sprinkled in areas that are frequently damp. It is a far more targeted and effective way of controlling mosquitoes. The best known brand goes by the name “Mosquito Bits“.

Action

Consider contacting your state senator or assembly member to recommend legislation banning mosquito fogging and spraying in residential areas. (If you’re not in Webster, find your senator or assembly member.)

Currently the only active legislation in New York State related to Mosquito spraying is targeted to prohibiting aerial and ground application of malathion and certain pyrethroid-based insecticides near schools, day cares, and parks.

If you use a landscape or lawn care company, consider using a company that does not promote the use of mosquito fogs and sprays or encourage them to discontinue offering mosquito control services.

Create a pollinator garden in your yard. It will not only provide a lot of beauty, but it will be helping butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

Stay tuned

This is not a one off post. This is important and we will continue to advocate for bees, butterflies, fireflies, and other important insects.

Further reading:

State of the Birds, Cornell University 2025
What You Need to Know Before Spraying for Mosquitoes, Mizejewski and Weber 2025
A Systematic Review of Insect Decline and Discovery, Hailay and Gebremariam 2024
Spring into Action Against Mosquitoes, Aaron Anderson 2023
Nearly 3 Billion Birds Gone, Cornell Labs 2019
Effects of mosquito sprays on humans, pets, and wildlife, Colin Purrington 2018

Scarlet Lily Beetles

by Zoe

Hey Zoe,

For the past few weeks I’ve noticed these bright red beetles on my lilies causing all kinds of damage. What should I do?

Lucy W.

Hi Lucy,
What you are likely seeing is the Scarlet Lily Beetle (Lilioceris lilii). While attractive at first glace, scarlet lily beetles are horribly destructive. They first appeared in New York State around 2012 after being accidentally imported to Canada in the late 1940s.

Scarlet lily beetles and their larvae, can defoliate Asiatic, Oriental, Martagon and similar lily species, causing strain to the plant and adversely affecting its appearance. At least they don’t bother daylilies.

Here are hopefully a few effective organic methods to manage scarlet lily beetles.

Identification and Timing

  • Appearance: Adults are 6–8 mm long, bright red with black heads, legs, and undersides. They drop and flip upside down when disturbed, blending into soil. Larvae are orange-brown, slug-like, and cover themselves with black excrement, feeding voraciously on leaf undersides.
  • Lifecycle: Adults emerge in early spring (April–May), lay 250–450 red eggs in rows on leaf undersides, and larvae hatch in 4–8 days, feeding for 16–24 days before pupating in soil. A second generation may appear in mid-summer. They overwinter as adults in soil or debris.
Scarlet Lily Beetle
Soapy Water

Organic Control Methods

Hand-Picking:

  • Tools: An old pickle or jam jar filled with warm soapy water and a medium sized artist’s paint brush.
  • How: Check plants early morning when beetles are sluggish. When you spot a beetle or larvae on a lily leaf, hold the jar of soapy water beneath the leaf and brush the beetle into the water. Works well for Japanese Beetles infestations as well.
  • Frequency: Every 2–3 days, focusing on undersides and leaf-stem junctions.

Egg and Larvae Removal:

  • How: Inspect leaf undersides for red egg rows and larvae. Remove with a brush in a similar manner. Don’t touch the larvae, their excrement coating is gross!
  • Frequency: Twice weekly during June–July when eggs and larvae peak.

Traps and Barriers:

  • Grapefruit Rinds: Place rinds near lilies to attract beetles, check daily, and dispose of in warm soapy water. This could double as a slug control.
  • Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Sprinkle food-grade DE around lily bases (1-inch band). It dehydrates beetles and larvae on contact. Reapply after rain.

Encourage Natural Predators:

  • How: Attract birds (e.g., via a birdbath or feeder), frogs, or ground beetles by avoiding pesticides. Parasitoid wasps (e.g., Tetrastichus setifer) are being introduced in some areas and may eventually reach NY, targeting beetle larvae.

Neem Oil (I don’t use it, but if you’re short on time):

  • How: Apply neem oil (mixed with water and a drop of soap) every 5–7 days, covering all leaf surfaces, especially undersides. Continue through the summer.
  • Caution: Use early morning or late evening to avoid harming pollinators. Test on a small area first.
  • Does it work?: Some report limited success.

Additional Tips

  • Sanitation: Remove plant debris and loosen the top 2–3 inches of soil around lilies after the first frost (October) to disrupt overwintering adults.
  • Resistant Varieties: If damage persists, consider lilies like ‘Defender Pink’ or species like Lilium henryi ‘Madame Butterfly’, which show some resistance. Avoid replacing all lilies—your garden’s diversity is a strength.
  • Avoid Chemicals: Insecticides (e.g., permethrin) work but could also harm birds and beneficial insects.

Reality Check

Hand-picking is labor-intensive but effective for a small garden. Some gardeners report cyclical declines after years of diligence, suggesting persistence pays off. If beetles overwhelm despite efforts, reducing lily numbers or switching to resistant types might be pragmatic, though it’s a last resort given their beauty.

Have a question? Ask Zoe.

Those Pesky Squirrels

by Webster Arboretum

Nothing raises a bird watchers blood pressure like seeing a squirrel dangle upside down on the side of a bird feeder while gorging itself on expensive seed.

If the squirrels aren’t pigging out on bird seed they’re digging holes in your garden in search of tasty bulbs and uprooting plants along the way.

The more your yard resembles a smorgasbord, the larger the number of unwanted visitors you will have.

Luckily there are a few things you can do to make your property less of a Happy Meal.

Plants that Squirrels dislike.

Alliums
Daffodils
Fritillaries
Marigolds
Mint
Nasturtiums

You won’t see a lot of squirrels chomping on daffodil bulbs. Daffodil bulbs contain a toxic alkaloid called lycorine that is harmful to squirrels, other rodents, and humans.

Apparently the bulbs of Fritillaries have an unpleasant flavor, so squirrels tend to leave them alone.

Alliums, Marigolds, Narturtiums, and Mint all have scents that squirrels find to be repugnant. Consider planting them in proximity to vulnerable plants.

Over the years, we’ve purchased a wide variety of bird feeders. Some more squirrel proof than others. Durability has been an issue. Our existing tube feeders have become jammed up and no longer return to the open position after a squirrel departs. They have also become susceptible to moisture. Squirrels have also chewed threw springs and end caps of various feeders.

We’ve just purchased a new feeder that purports to be squirrel proof. We’ll let you know how it goes.