Choosing DIY Pesticides

Quick Label Note (Our “Don’t Make a Mist‑Take” Pledge)

We bring the blast, the label brings the law. Always read and follow the product label and only use products that explicitly allow a backpack mist blower/mister. If this page and a label ever disagree, the label wins. We don’t sell chemicals or give legal advice—we just help you make it mist without making a mess.

How to Spray with MisterSkeeter (Technique Beats Overspray)

• Dusk application. Bees aren’t foraging.
• Low & slow into shade: undersides of leaves, shrubs, fence lines, under decks.
• Never spray blooms (including clover, dandelions, milkweed).
• Keep out of water. Most yard sprays are very toxic to fish—avoid ponds, creeks, and runoff paths.
• People & pets: out of the yard during application and until dry.
• Follow the label. It tells you where, how, and how much.

Kill‑It‑All / Longest Lasting

• Buy: a residual pyrethroid barrier concentrate.
• Actives to look for: lambda‑cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin, permethrin.
• What to expect: fast knockdown + multi‑week residual on shady foliage.
• Trade‑offs: will kill bees/butterflies if you hit flowers; very toxic to fish—keep spray and runoff away from ponds/creeks.
• Label must say: “backpack mist blower / mist sprayer / mister” and “barrier/perimeter/ornamental foliage.”
• Skip: products marked Restricted Use or labels that only allow ULV/thermal fogging (different gear).

Quick Knockdown (Tonight’s Cookout)

• Buy: a pyrethrin or pyrethroid product that specifically allows mist/blower (some will also mention ULV/space spray).
• What to expect: rapid relief with shorter duration than barriers.
• Trade‑offs: same pollinator/water cautions; expect to reapply sooner.
• Label must say: “mist/backpack blower”. If it says ULV/thermal fogger only, put it back—wrong tool.

Bee‑First (Preserve Pollinators)

• Best practice: spray at dusk/night, never on blooms (including blooming weeds), and aim into shady, non‑blooming foliage where mosquitoes rest.
• If you still spray: pick the Quick knockdown option (shorter‑lived residues) and be strict about technique.
• Bonus move: pair your spray habits with water management (dump standing water; use separate larvicides in water).

“Natural” Approach

• Buy: a plant‑oil (EPA 25(b) minimum‑risk) product labeled for yard/mist/blower (common oils: cedar, peppermint, clove, lemongrass).
• What to expect: short‑lived results; plan to reapply more often than synthetics.
• Trade‑offs: still don’t spray flowers; keep out of water; performance varies by brand and weather.
• Label must say: “backpack mist blower/mist sprayer/mister.”

Label checklist (Five‑Second Sanity Scan)

Before you buy or pour, do this quick read. If it doesn’t pass, don’t make it mist.

• Mentions “backpack mist blower / mist sprayer / mister.”
• Mentions “barrier/perimeter/ornamental foliage” (for longer‑lasting) or “space spray/mist” (for quick knockdown).
• Includes bee/pollinator and water precautions you can follow on your site.
• Says “ULV or thermal fogger only” (not your tool).
• Marked Restricted Use (not for DIY).

Quick Comparison Chart

Always read and follow the label. If in doubt, don’t spray it out.