Watch CBS News

Mosquito Squad's Business Booming, Eliminating Pests

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Pests kept creeping in on Greg Levendoski's fun, until he heard about the Mosquito Squad.

"(My daughter's graduation) party went from 4 p.m. to about 1:15 in the morning and I literally didn't feel one bug on me the entire time," he said.

The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District works on getting rid of bugs in entire neighborhoods, but if you want mosquitoes gone from just your yard, that's where the Mosquito Squad comes in.

"It kills the mosquitoes and ticks upon application," Russ Jundt said. "But more importantly, it's micro-encapsulated, or time released, so little by little, a more active ingredient is released so that when the next generation of mosquitoes come out, and they will, they also get affected by that. They die and it starts to create that barrier."

More people seem to be buying in.

"We are adding staff daily and we're adding between 35 to 60 clients per day," Jundt said.

The company has received many calls for one-day events, like grad parties, weddings and family reunions.

"Typically about $175 and we'll come out treat the property," Jundt said.

Some then sign up for the season, and less than an acre of property will run around $400.

Levendoski believed in the process so much, he invested in the entire $3,000 to $5,000 system.

The company uses an insecticide called pyrethrins and it's not supposed to be harmful to humans or pets.

Crews do want you to stay out of the yard for 15 to 20 minutes after the application, so it can stick to your grass and trees.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.