SOS: Spring Survival Guide Against Mosquitoes

As the weather begins to warm up and the trees and flowers start to bloom, many of us look forward to the arrival of spring. However, with the arrival of spring also comes the return of mosquitoes. These pesky insects can quickly put a damper on our outdoor activities, but with a little bit of knowledge and preparation, we can enjoy the spring season mosquito-free.

Mosquitoes are more prevalent during the spring months because they thrive in warm, humid conditions. As the weather warms up, mosquitoes become more active and begin to breed. Female mosquitoes require blood meals to reproduce, which is why they are known for their painful and irritating bites.

To prevent mosquito bites, it’s important to take a few simple steps to reduce the mosquito population around your home.

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so it’s important to eliminate any sources of standing water around your property. This can include things like bird baths, clogged gutters, and even small puddles that may form after a rainstorm. By removing standing water, you can significantly reduce the number of mosquitoes in your area.

If you’re spending time outdoors during the spring months, it’s also a good idea to wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves and pants. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors, so wearing light-colored clothing can also help to deter them. Additionally, you may want to consider using a mosquito repellent that contains DEET or other mosquito-repelling ingredients.

While mosquitoes are certainly a nuisance, they can also pose a health risk. Mosquitoes are known to carry a variety of diseases, including the West Nile virus, Zika virus, and malaria. While the risk of contracting these diseases may be low in certain areas, it’s still important to take precautions to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

In conclusion, while mosquitoes can certainly put a damper on our outdoor activities during the spring months, there are a variety of steps we can take to reduce the mosquito population around our homes and protect ourselves from mosquito bites. By eliminating standing water, wearing protective clothing, and using mosquito repellent, we can enjoy the beauty of spring without the annoyance of mosquitoes.

Mosquito Hunters Owner Reflects on What It’s Like Being Women in Pest Control

By Victoria Campisi

Mosquito Hunters, the rapidly growing outdoor pest control franchise, gives franchisees from all backgrounds the chance to create long-term success through a proven business model.

And although one might assume that pest control is a male-dominated industry, that couldn’t be further from the truth at Mosquito Hunters. Director of Franchise Development Stephanie Ruby, for example, worked in weight loss centers, tutoring, French pastries and junk hauling before she was recruited to Mosquito Hunters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ve always loved Mosquito Hunters,” she said. “When I was first laid off during the stay-at-home orders, I was walking around my neighborhood with my husband, and I saw a lot of pest control trucks. I decided I was getting into bugs as my next move.”

She recalled connecting with a colleague in the franchise industry. After making some phone calls, Ruby ended up speaking to Eric Martin, senior vice president of franchise development for Mosquito Hunters’ parent franchisor, Happinest Brands. Attracted to the simple model and support system, she decided it was the right place for her and has been with the brand for about three years now.

One of the franchisees that Ruby has onboarded is Stephanie Eaddy of Atlanta. After working in corporate marketing and international business for over 20 years, Eaddy found herself starting to become more entrepreneurial and thought about owning her own business. When the pandemic hit, she and her husband began to explore franchising.

“We started to see that there were a lot of benefits to it,” she said. “It’s a great system with strategies already in place. As a woman who wanted to spearhead an entrepreneurial agency, it was what I felt would be the best route to success.”

Eaddy noted that similar to Ruby, it was Mosquito Hunters business model that resonated with her.

“It wasn’t a one and done,” she noted. “It was about building long-term, year-over-year recurring revenue.”

In honor of Women’s History Month, Ruby and Eaddy shared more of their perspective on being women in franchising with the 1851 Franchise.

Owning a Business in a “Male Dominated” Space

Despite the fact that pest control is traditionally seen as a male-dominated industry, Ruby and Eaddy both emphasized how many opportunities women have to come in and bring their own skill set to the job.

“I think females have a tendency to do very well in male-dominated industries,” said Ruby. “I think we’re more empathetic and can do things a little bit differently than men can, which gives us an advantage.”

She added that, at Mosquito Hunters, there is actually a high percentage of female owners and females in the system compared to other brands she has worked with in the past.

“At the end of the day, it’s a service-based industry,” noted Eaddy. “So customer service is paramount, and I think that women tend to have good customer service skills. In a lot of homes, women are the decision-makers when it comes to what businesses are servicing the home, so we are able to relate better to the customer.”

The Advantages and Support

As with any industry, there are unique advantages and challenges that come along with being a woman in the profession. However, both women see their gender as having more advantages.

“There’s quite a lot of assumptions made about whether or not I have the physical ability to run this kind of business—and I surprised people all the time,” said Eaddy. “I’m not afraid of getting my hands dirty. I’m not afraid of getting out in people’s yards and looking at what’s going on with my customers. But I also think that I have a lot of relatability with my clientele. The majority of my customers are women who are calling in, and I think they appreciate having another woman at the end of the line.”

Something that makes the experience even smoother is the support from Mosquito Hunters.

“My boss has four daughters, so there’s nothing I can throw at him that he hasn’t already heard,” joked Ruby. “I feel listened to and supported. The team takes my feedback into account, which I think is key when it comes to that kind of employer-employee relationship.”

Eaddy emphasized that, as a woman, she never felt like she didn’t belong in the room. In addition to personal support, the brand has plenty of franchise support initiatives, which allows owners like her to focus on operations and driving growth.

Advice for Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs

For other women looking to get into franchising, the Mosquito Hunters owner says to do it.

“Go with your gut and follow the model,” said Ruby.

Eaddy added that women should not be scared to reach out to networking and support groups for women in the franchise industry and to look at different financing options that are geared toward women’s business ownership.

“For anyone who’s looking to get into any business, don’t let being a woman stop you from selecting an industry or even just taking that first step,” she said. “One of the great things is that there’s a huge community out there that’s willing to help, and people are a lot friendlier than you may think from the outside looking in.”

The total investment necessary to open a Mosquito Hunters franchise ranges from $89,107 to $116,187. The franchise license fee ranges from $30,000 to $40,000. For more information on franchising opportunities with Mosquito Hunters, visit mosquitohuntersfranchise.com.