When Jonathan and Jessica Rimmer moved to North Carolina from Ohio, they couldn’t believe how many mosquitoes joined them at their new home. They lined their yard with citronella candles and doused themselves in insect repellant, but the smell was overwhelming. Plus, they still got bitten. Then they learned about misting methods that sent mosquitoes packing. Now they can enjoy their yard and the nearby woods with their baby son rather than a swarm of bloodthirsty pests. Their business, Triad Mosquito Control, brings this misting technology to their neighbors. Each treatment lasts three to four weeks, allowing clients to garden, grill, and sunbathe without mosquitoes biting them or stealing their lunch money.

The treatment mist contains two different chemicals that are gentle enough for kids and pets but overwhelming to pests. The chemicals attach to the feet of full-grown mosquitoes, who carry it back to their breeding grounds. After water has been emptied from pet-food bowls, birdbaths, and the eyes of grumpy garden gnomes, a trained technician applies the treatment to the yard. Shortly thereafter, once the mist has dried, clients can return to their yards, without the unpleasant scent of bug spray.