Mosquitoes and ticks are both blood-feeding pests, but they require different treatment strategies because they live, breed, and rest in different areas of your yard. Combined mosquito and tick control provides the most complete protection for your family.
How Mosquitoes and Ticks Differ
Understanding the biology of each pest explains why a single treatment approach does not cover both effectively:
Mosquitoes are flying insects that breed in standing water and rest on vegetation. Female mosquitoes lay eggs in as little as a bottle cap of stagnant water, and adults spend their days resting on the undersides of leaves, in dense shrubs, and along shaded fence lines. They are most active at dawn and dusk, flying to find hosts using carbon dioxide and body heat detection.
Ticks are arachnids (related to spiders) that live in leaf litter, tall grass, and wooded edges. They do not fly or jump — instead, they climb to the tips of grass blades or low vegetation and wait for a host to brush past, a behavior called "questing." Ticks can survive for months without feeding, and they remain active whenever temperatures are above 35°F, meaning their season in Michigan starts earlier and ends later than mosquito season.
Treatment Differences
Because mosquitoes and ticks occupy different zones of your yard, effective treatment must target both:
Mosquito Treatment Focus: Barrier sprays target vegetation from ground level up to about 10 feet — the foliage zone where mosquitoes rest during the day. Treatment also includes structural surfaces like fences, deck undersides, and building foundations where mosquitoes shelter. Standing water sources receive larvicide treatment to kill developing larvae. Our barrier spray service addresses all of these areas systematically.
Tick Treatment Focus: Tick control concentrates on the ground layer — leaf litter, mulch beds, stone walls, ground cover, and the transition zones between lawn and woods or tall grass. These are the areas where ticks live and quest for hosts. Effective tick treatment also targets the perimeter of the property where wildlife (deer, mice, rabbits) introduce ticks into the yard.
A standard mosquito barrier spray applied only to raised vegetation may miss the ground-level habitats where ticks are concentrated. Similarly, a ground-focused tick treatment will not reach the elevated resting sites where mosquitoes hide. This is why dedicated tick control as an add-on to mosquito treatment makes sense — it ensures complete coverage across all pest zones.
Common Ticks in the Ann Arbor Area
Washtenaw County is home to several tick species that homeowners should know about:
Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick): The primary carrier of Lyme disease in Michigan. Deer tick populations have expanded significantly across southern Michigan over the past decade. Adults are active in spring and fall, while nymphs — which are tiny and easily missed — are active in late spring and summer when they pose the greatest Lyme disease risk.
American Dog Tick: The most common tick encountered in Michigan. Primarily active April through August. Dog ticks can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, though cases are uncommon in Michigan. They prefer grassy areas and are frequently found along trails and yard edges.
Lone Star Tick: Historically uncommon in Michigan but increasingly reported as its range expands northward. Known for aggressive host-seeking behavior and has been linked to Alpha-gal syndrome (red meat allergy) in some individuals.
Why Combined Treatment Makes Sense
If you are already treating for mosquitoes, adding tick control is the most cost-effective way to address both threats. Here is why:
Shared Visit: Your technician is already on-site with equipment. Adding tick treatment to a mosquito visit adds only incremental time and product — which is why the add-on price is significantly less than scheduling a separate tick-only service.
Overlapping Season: In the Ann Arbor area, mosquito and tick seasons overlap significantly. Treating for both on the same schedule (every 21 days from April through October) maintains consistent protection against both pests.
Complete Yard Coverage: Mosquito treatment covers the mid-level vegetation zone. Tick treatment covers the ground zone. Together, your entire yard is protected from ground level to the tree canopy.
Family and Pet Safety: Both mosquitoes and ticks transmit serious diseases. Mosquitoes carry West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Ticks carry Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and other infections. Children and pets who play in yards are exposed to both pests, and comprehensive treatment reduces risk from both vectors.
Tick Prevention Tips Beyond Treatment
Professional treatment is the foundation, but these habitat modifications further reduce tick populations on your property:
Keep grass mowed to 3 inches or shorter. Remove leaf litter from yard edges, under shrubs, and around play areas. Create a 3-foot gravel or wood chip barrier between lawns and wooded or brushy areas. Stack firewood neatly in dry areas away from the house. Discourage wildlife (deer, rodents) from entering the yard with fencing where practical. Check family members and pets for ticks after outdoor activity, especially in ears, hairlines, and between toes on dogs.
Get Complete Protection
Mosquito Time offers tick control as a convenient add-on to any barrier spray or seasonal plan. Request a free quote or call (734) 985-2899 to add tick protection to your mosquito control plan. One visit, two pests handled.